The Vostok blog

Salute Yuri Gagarin, Gherman Titov, Andrian Nikolayev and Papel Popovich. Pilots of Vostok mission 1, 2, 3 and 4 respectively. Respect.

We like modernism. We like the fact that it’s a movement that’s not just based on aesthetics, a movement that has an actual ethos behind it. Simplified forms, rationality and functionality are the principal concepts that guide it. And we believe in them, because we believe that if you make something following these principles it will last longer.

It was a happy surprise then to find out that The Getty Conservation Institute has begun a project called the Conserving Modern Architecture Initiative. Though it’s international, it’s primary focus will be L.A. The city was a wonderful breeding ground for both designers and architects exploring with new materials, new structures and new proposals. Their first effort will be the Eames House Conservation Project.

Here’s a short video about it:

We’re pretty big fans of this book at the studio. Javier included it in his list, ‘The 26 books that shaped me as an interaction designer‘. Thanks to Bruno Teixidor we now know that it’s available in Spanish.

Things we love about it: it’s concise without losing scope, its simple without losing depth. All in all, a book that helps you understand how much interaction design and architecture are linked. It makes you aware of the importance of process in design, the importance of space (negative space and positive space) and function.

You can buy it online here.

It’s no secret that we make a big deal about eating well at Vostok. If there’s one thing Javier, Ricardo and I have in common is just that. Sure we try to eat healthy but, what really rocks our boat is good, hearty, unpretentious food.

The correlation is quite obvious once you get your mind around it because the same reasoning that guides our design principles, guides our eating habits. Or at least, what we –with more or less luck– aspire for them to be. In other words:

In this comparison we’re not taking into account food à la Ferran Adrià. Not because we don’t consider it food or we don’t like it, but basically because it can’t be separated from Art*. In Adrià’s own words: food at El Bulli isn’t meant to nourish you (though it does), it’s meant to be an emotional experience, an event. And we don’t consider Design to be that. For Vostok, Design (with a capital letter D) is, to quote Mr. Eames, a method of action: a tool to solve problems. And therefore something that can only be compared to basic, hearty food. Food that is useful, that has a purpose. That has no artistic aspirations.

At a first glance this appreciation might be quite banal but if you take a closer look, you’ll realize it all makes sense. Because these principles aren’t just our design principles, or our food principles, they’re the principles that guide who we are and what we do.

What about pleasure, you might ask? Eating good food for the mere pleasure of it? Well, to quote Charles Eames again, who would say that pleasure is not useful?

*There’s a wonderful exception to this: La Comida de la Familia, a recipe book that has been recently edited and that includes most of the dishes the team at El Bulli had for lunch before the action started. These are all good, traditional, hearty and timeless recipes. A little gem.

There are two reasons why we like Futura and why we use it on our logo: geometry and symmetry. The two ends of timeless beauty.

Designer Michael Bierut says the best clients fall into two categories: the ones who trust you because they know they don’t know and the ones who trust you precisely because they do. To his notion we would add: the best clients are the ones who challenge you. Challenge you to challenge yourself.

We make a big effort in Vostok to choose our clients wisely and there’s a reason for it: when you work with people you admire you work better and quicker. Like a well-oiled machine. There are pros and cons, true, but they’re worth it. Basically because you have days like today.

Today Minube and Ducksboard are taking two important steps forward. For one, Ducksboard has launched. If you haven’t checked out the pretty awesome video yet, do. We made the video with the Riot Cinema team.

Next in line is Minube. After winning Apple’s Spain’s best app of the year award and the App Date [links in Spanish] award a few days ago, they’re organizing a pretty cool event today to celebrate the launch of their social traveler guides on iPad.

All in all, a pretty good way to begin closing 2011.

Only two companies were featured in RTVE‘s (a Spanish national TV channel) coverage of FICOD (Spain’s most acclaimed forum for digital content) last night. We’re proud to say both of them are Vostok’s clients with whom we’ve been working and desigining together for some time now.

Are we bragging? You bet. It’s not every day that two products you did strategy and design for receive this kind of offline attention. We’re thrilled. Kudos to Filmin and Minube

You can watch it online here.

多くのカトリックの子供たちが体験するように、私も１０歳のときに初めて聖餐の儀式を受けた。友達や親戚からたくさんのプレゼントをもらったが、そのほとんどは本や服だった。しかし、私が一番気に入ったプレゼントは、１２の異なる音色を奏でるCASIOのデジタル腕時計だった。それを腕にしていると、まるで未来を身にまとうような心地がした。時計の裏を見てみるとそこには「Made in Japan」と刻まれていた。こんな素晴らしいものを作る国は一体どんなところなんだろうと想像を巡らせていた。その時計が本当に大好きだった私はある日、大きくなったら日本に行って、その時計を作るような人たちと一緒に仕事をして、未来を作る人になりたいと心に誓った。１０歳のとき、私はそんな夢を抱いていた。

今、私は３６歳になり、インタラクションデザインスタジオを経営している。そして日本で仕事をしようと決心した。

Vostok Studioは日本へ進出する。以前のように旅行者としてではなく、日本人と共に、日本人のために仕事をするデザイナーとして。日本は長年に渡って私たちに多くのものを与えてくれた。今こそ、そのお返しをするときなのだと感じている。いつも私たちに何かを教え、ワクワクさせてくれた国、そして最近ではその国のことを思い、多くの人たちが涙を流した。そんな国から興す美しい復興の一員になりたいと心から思う。

優秀なデザイナーなら誰しも私たちの仕事が日本文化から多大な影響を受けているということを意識しているはずだ。日本庭園、武道、寿司、禅、CASIO、SONY、SEGA、BANDAI、MUJI、Panasonic、SEIKO、TOYOTA、アニメ、ガンダム、深澤直人さん、原研哉さん、・・・その他多くの人やメーカー、ブランドなど、名前をあげれば切りがないほどある。

品質や完璧さ、職人技、美やバランスの感覚、高尚さ・・・これらはVostokが追求する価値でもある。そのような共通点もあり、日本への最初の第一歩を踏み出すのに今が絶好の機会だと確信している。ワクワクせずにはとてもいられない。

私たちは、尊敬する様々なブランドやデザイナー、多くの成果を見てきたが、日本のインタラクションデザインにはまだまだ成長の余地が多く残っているように思う。素晴らしい技術者がいる国、そして、技術者主導のプロダクトが持つ否定的な側面へも寛容だった社会、日本。しかし、iPhoneが日本へもたらされたとき、適切にデザインされたインターフェースとユーザーエクスペリエンスが日本社会でもすぐに受け入れられ、歓迎された。ということは、私たちVostokにもチャンスがあるのではないだろうか。

他国でデザインスタジオの活動を広げていくのは容易ではない。まして、スペインで誕生した小さな会社が国際社会に飛び込み、しかし組織のサイズは小さなままで活動を続けていこうというのは普通ではない。不安定で険しい道になることは間違いないし、具体的に何をどうしていくのかという懸念もある。でも私たちは本気で取り組む事にした。マドリードと東京の双方から仕事をし始めて数ヶ月が過ぎた。将来日本からのクライアントとなり得る人たちへ向け、私たちの仕事や、デザインに対する考えがきちんと伝えられるように、東京にいるチームが映像作品や、ケーススタディ、ビデオなどの翻訳や、異文化適応対策に取り組んで来た。文字を翻訳しただけでは十分伝わらないことは分かっているので、ポートフォリオも準備し、視覚的な面も含め、より様々な角度からVostokを理解してもらえるよう努めて来た。Eri KageyamaとDani Alíasの２人は東京で活動している私たちの誇るVostokチームの仲間だ。Karyna Wallaceも多大な助力をしてくれた。何十年も日本に住み、ファッションデザイナーやファブリック設計に従事してきた彼女は、自身の日本での活躍などを喜んで私たちに教えてくれた。これらの人たちの支えや、そしてもちろん、マドリードで共に働く私のVostokチームの協力のお陰で私は自信を持ってここまで来る事ができたのだと感謝している。

かくして、私は第一歩を踏み出した。入学前日の子供のようにワクワクしている。５年前のVostok Studioの誕生以来、今までで一番重要な決断なのだから。そしてもうすぐそれは現実となり、動き始める。日本へ進出するというのは、険しく冒険的な決断だと思う。膨大な時間やお金もかかることだ。しかし、こうして私を突き動かすのは、純粋に日本が好きという気持ちなんだと思う。

As many catholic kids, I had my first communion when I was 10. I received many presents from friends and relatives, most of them were books and clothes. But the one present that I liked the most was a digital wrist watch, a Casio that could play 12 different melodies. I loved wearing it, it felt like having the future in my wrist. If you turned it back you could see it: “Made in Japan”. It always kept me wondering how marvelous would be that country where they made such amazing objects. I was so fond of the watch that I decided that one day, when I grew up, I would not just wear such things but visit Japan and be part of those privileged who made them, who made the future. That was the dream of a 10 year old.

I’m 36 now and I run an interaction design studio. I’ve decided that we are going to work in Japan.

Yes, Vostok Studio is going to Japan. Not as tourist as in the previous trips but as designers who want to work there, for the Japanese, with the Japanese, among the Japanese. Japan has been giving us many things for many years. Now it’s time to give back and to be part of the beautiful renaissance that will come from a country which always teaches us, excites us and recently made us cry.

No good designer can ignore the influence of Japanese culture in our doing: Japanese gardens, Casio, Sony, Sega, Bandai, martial arts, Muji, Panasonic, sushi, zen, Seiko, Toyota, anime, Gundam robots, Naoto Fukasawa, Kenya Hara, and many other inspiring names and brands…

Japanese commitment to quality and perfection, the craftmanship, the sense of beauty and balance, their integrity… These are values that we pursue as well at Vostok. I believe we share a common ground in a perfect momentum. We cannot be more excited about this.

We could go on and on, listing all the references we have, all the brands and designers we admire, all the achievements… And yet, we still feel there is an opportunity to contribute to a better interaction design in Japan. The country has had always great engineers and a society that is tolerant to the downsides of engineer driven products. The arrival of the iPhone to the country showed that their society welcomes well designed interfaces and experiences. Will there be room for us?

Expanding the activity of a design studio to a different country is tough. It is unusual for a small company born in Spain to go international and still want to remain small. Our road is paved with insecurities and doubts on what to do and how to do it. But we are serious about this. We’ve been working on the move for some time now, both from Madrid and Tokyo. Our people there have been translating and adapting many of our materials, case studies and videos so we can better explain what we do to our potential Japanese clients. We felt that translating was not enough so we decided to go even further, to have a stable presence there. That is the job of Eri Kageyama and Dani Alías, two excellent professionals who swim confident in the seas of design. Karyna Wallace has also been of great help. Being a western fashion and fabrics designer who has lived in Japan for a decade, she knows her deeds there and she has been willing to share them with us. The work and help of these marvelous people plus the unquestionable commitment of my team make me feel confident.

So here I am in a Japan Airlines plane that will land in Haneda Airport in four hours. The cabin is dark, people are sleeping but I can’t rest. I’m excited like a kid before his first day at High School. This is by far the most important move we’ve taken as a studio since we were born, five years ago, and it’s about to become real. Starting in Japan has been a bold and risky decision. It is also a great investment in time, money… and love above anything else.

Or better still, what’s for breakfast? It’s Ricardo’s birthday today so we’re having cake. Chocolate cake to be more precise.

Bought this yuminess at Mallorca Market near Colón.

Happy Birthday, Ric!