From an early age, my mother and I would take walks around the city every weekend, always visiting exhibitions or museums, where I was introduced to art in various forms. I soon began drawing, imitating professionals and drawing inspiration from them. I enjoyed showing my works to my uncle Gera, who was the best jeweler and someone I loved spending time with. While I now use programs like Zbrush and Rhinoceros, he still works by hand.

After school, I enrolled in medical college, as my parents were doctors, and it seemed like the obvious choice for me. Art remained my hobby. However, I realized I was afraid of blood and had to leave medical school, though I found learning interesting. After that, I entered the Yekaterinburg Art College and started my career as a graphic designer. It was a wonderful time. We studied at an old school, learning fields like icon painting, wood carving, and more. I excelled in plastic anatomy, thanks to my medical background.

During our studies, we had access to various software. As young students, we experimented with different designs, unrelated to our coursework, and shared them with each other. In my first year, a woman came to our class looking for help publishing a book and turned to our teacher, Daniel, who also owned a design studio. He recommended me as a designer. I completed my first freelance project, which was difficult, and I had to quickly learn the intricacies of typography. Afterward, Daniel invited me to work at his studio, with the condition that I would continue my studies and prioritize them. I told my parents about this, and while my mother supported me, my father was skeptical. He said I might not be able to balance work and studies, and I had to prove I could handle both.

Work and study became a solid foundation for me in the design world. After graduating, I moved to Tbilisi and entered the Academy of Arts, where my uncle Gera studied. I later found an interesting job in a large company designing exhibition equipment. In my free time, I helped the manager prepare a newspaper for the employees, as the company was large and everyone was interested in the latest updates.

During one meeting, I learned that the model bureau couldn’t produce models and materials for some products. It turned out they didn’t even have a 3D artist. I called a classmate and asked him to delay all orders until Christmas and allow us to provide materials to our company, as we didn’t have them in stock. Then, I called another friend, who made picture frames for me, and asked him to make stands from natural wood. Meanwhile, I prepared a 3D model for the client, my friends, and management, using parallel CAD files. I showed the results to the managers, and we completed everything before Christmas.

In the process, I remembered how my mother used to buy me various model kits of ships and architecture. The model bureau team often started reaching out to me for help, and later offered me a job. I spoke to my management, and we decided to find a designer to take over my projects. Modeling became a new beginning for me. We started working on architecture, interior design, and much more. At the same time, I didn’t forget to attend various training courses and take on interesting freelance projects. I also gained extensive museum experience in St. Petersburg.

Now, I work as a designer, creating memorials. I enjoy helping people preserve the memory of their loved ones. My work experience is hard to describe because I’m constantly trying new and interesting things. There’s always more to explore in design. As I understand it, it’s important to remain flexible and open to new ideas.