Interview with Nikita Lebedev aka ru_ferret

It is hard not to notice Nikita's logos in any logo gallery he posts his work on. They are fresh, detailed and a pleasure to view. He had the kindness to answer our questions and we are happy to show you the resulting interview. Enjoy.

Q: First of all, can you tell me more about yourself?

My name it means nothing, my age it means less and the country I come from is called the The Russian Federation. For the record: call me Nikita. I’m 22, a student of jewelry design.

Q. When did you know you want to design logos?

It seems like it was on the cards from day one. lol My first word might as well have been ‘logo’. Seriously, I was simply surfing the net at one time and bumped into a bunch of logo design contests and thought I could give it a try.

Q. How did you learn to create logos?

I’m self-taught or self-styled, if you will.

Q. Can you describe your logo creation process?

Well, do I CREATE logos? What is creation anyway. I think any process is a kind of creation process, in a sense… You just pull ideas out of the air, fiddle with them and tinker, pick and choose, and hey presto, here comes the logo. That’s the way it goes. It’s time-consuming but very enjoyable.

Q. Where do you get your inspiration?

Where does ANY inspiration come from? Do you know? Tell me, I’ll be grateful. It just comes, you know. And then sometimes it doesn’t and you cast about searching frantically for good leads. Typical.

Q. How important is the research stage for you? How do you do your research?

It depends. Sometimes it is very important. Basically I try to keep close tabs at what’s going on in the field, do some reading on the side occasionally, too.

Q. How do you deal with creative blocks?

I prefer to think they have to deal with me, not the other way round. A good sleep usually helps. It’s all in a day’s work.

Q. What design programs do you use and why?

Adobe Illustrator mainly. It might be simply a matter of habit, hardly a conscious choice.

Q. What do you think makes a great logo?

I wish I knew the answer myself. There’s no silver bullet, I guess.

Q. What do you think are your best logos so far and why?

I’m sort of partial to Mamapapa and Pavlin. Then Sfera, Pinocella and Pelican seem to have turned out well. I like Bufet and Zoomania too… In fact, it’s an ungrateful business to praise your own work. Success is counted sweetest by those who never succeed, the poet said. Let the works speak for themselves.

Q. What was your most challenging project and why?

There is a pet shop called ‘Zoomania’ in Moscow. They launched this big logo-design contest on the internet. Big means big and, needless to say, I was challenged. The competition was tough, lots of good works. We moved slowly from stage to stage, but I was lucky in the end and signed on with them. Everybody seems to have taken to the logo, both the shop staff and their customers, I hear. What can beat that, may I ask?

Challenging!

Q. How do you deal with difficult clients? Can you give us an example?

By being nice and patient. A difficult client for me is one who doesn’t really know what they want. At one time I was commissioned to design a logo for a certain design studio ‘Sphere’. Everything was going smoothly, the logo was in the making, and when the job was eventually done, the client sort of flipped out, up and changed their mind about their initial order requirements. Boy, was I pissed off.

Q. How important are fonts to you?

All of them are useful and important at one time or other, I guess. Depends on the tasks, your goals, so to speak.

Q. What other design work do you do besides logo design?

Logo-design is largely a hobby. I also do jewelry design, as you understand. Web-design and package design are in the plans. I keep my mind open about these things, you know. I experiment.

Q. Where can people see your work? (a few links to your work)

Under their boot soles. Kidding. On Logopond mostly and of course, here at The Logo Mix.

Q. What advice would you give for aspiring logo designers?

If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. Then quit. There's no point in being a damn fool about it. 
- W. C. Fields