Robert

Q%When did you graduate from high school,
and what did you do afterward ?

A%I finished high school in 2019 and then took a classic
gap year. During that time, I worked, traveled a bit,
and spent a lot of time thinking about what I wanted
to do next. I was also part of a collective with friends
where we produced videos and organized parties in
Freiburg – it was a DJ collective.
One night, I applied to KISD, got accepted, and that
became my next step.

Q%How did you end up studying design ?

A%I found it really exciting to create things with our
collective back then – designing flyers, making
videos, and working on different creative projects.
It wasn’t that I wanted to focus on one specific
discipline, but rather that I was fascinated by the
creative process as a whole. That said, I was
somewhat drawn to video in particular.
Initially, I thought I would focus more on film at
KISD. In school, I was also interested in technical subjects,
so I wanted to find a middle ground between
something creative and something with a more
analytical or scientific connection.
That search for an intersection eventually led me
to design.

Q%What are you currently working on?
What are your main areas of focus?

A%Right now, I’m primarily focused on two things.
On one hand, I’m working on a playful and creative
film project. On the other, my main academic focus
has been on city-related topics – from citizen
participation to urban planning, often working in
interdisciplinary teams. I’ve done a lot of work on
mobility and I am also writing my Master’s thesis on
this subject. I would describe my approach as
understanding the scientific concepts behind these
topics while bringing new perspectives from a design
standpoint, or even connecting different disciplines
through design. For example, at Aalto University,
I worked on a project with landscape architects and
urban planners. In that setting, I felt like I was
offering an external perspective – almost a
co-design approach. Of course, there’s always a gap
between the role you envision for yourself as a student and the one you might actually have in the
professional world. But at the moment, this is the
direction I’m pursuing.

Q%Is there a project you are particularly
proud of?

A%Yes, definitely the project I just mentioned – the
collaboration with architects and landscape
architects. We developed a very narrative and
personal vision for the future of Irpin, a suburb of
Kyiv. The process was incredibly rewarding.
Another project I’m proud of was at Aalto,
where I worked on something more in the realm of
product design. We designed a sustainable shower
and conducted various user testings to explore how
people’s behavior might change. That project even
entered a patent process, which is exciting.
I think the projects that make me the proudest are
those that feel meaningful and exist at the
intersection of different disciplines.

Q%You participated in the MEDes program.
Can you explain what it is and why you
chose it?

A%MEDes is an international design program that spans
five years: three years at your home university – in
my case, KISD – and two years at two different international universities. I started at KISD, com-
pleted my first year during the pandemic,
my second year partially online and partially
in person, and then moved to Paris to study
at ENSCi for a year. About six months into my time
there, I applied to Aalto University in Finland, got
accepted, and continued my studies there.

Q%How was your experience in the program?
What did you learn?

A%It was extremely valuable. More than anything,
I learned how to continuously adapt to new
situations and recognize structural patterns that
are relevant to different design processes.
I also got to experience not only Finnish and French
cultures but also a wide exchange with other
international students. On a personal level, I learned
a lot about problem-solving – from finding housing
in a new country to adapting to different systems.
It made me more flexible, spontaneous, and less
afraid of change.

Q%What do you enjoy doing outside of your
studies?

A%For me, work and leisure are quite interconnected
since I spend so much time on my projects.
But aside from that, I’d say sports and outdoor adventures – I love experiencing nature.
Lately, I have also started getting more into
photography and filming for personal projects.
I still DJ a little, though not as much as before.

Q%Do you often feel stressed about your
studies?

A%Yes, there are definitely stressful phases. But for me,
the stress often doesn’t come from the workload
itself but rather from broader questions about the
future. Will I actually be able to take on the role
I imagine for myself? Or am I living in an illusion
that will eventually disappear? In other fields, like
medicine, people work extremely hard, but there’s
a clear path at the end. In design, we’re constantly
redefining our roles and figuring out where we fit.
That uncertainty can be stressful.

Q%Do you work alongside your studies?

A%In Cologne, I worked alongside my studies,
sometimes in hospitality and sometimes doing small
graphic design jobs. While studying abroad, that
wouldn’t have been possible – the workload was
simply too intense. Now, during my Master’s,
I’m so busy that I’m fortunate to have financial
support from my parents. So, it is not just a question of whether I want to focus
on my studies; I also can because of that support.

Q%What soft skills have you developed
through your studies?

A%At KISD, teamwork is essential. Another key aspect
is self-reflection – because the school gives you so
much freedom, you’re constantly asking yourself:
What do I really want?
Project management, navigating between idea
generation and concrete solutions, and being able to
structure creative processes – these are all skills
I’ve gained. At ENSCi in Paris, I learned how to finish
things. That might sound simple, but at KISD, the
process is often more important than the outcome.
In Paris, I had to decide at some point: This is done.
Aalto, for me, was a mix of both approaches – strong
research, but also a strong focus on realization.

Q%What do you expect from your future
career? Where would you like to work?

A%I’d love to work at the intersection of different disci-
plines – collaborating on larger projects, particularly
in urban planning and mobility.
A company like IDEO, which works on broad,
systemic challenges rather than just standard
design briefs, would be really exciting. At the same time, I’d love to keep making films –
whether commercial or documentary.
The medium still fascinates me.
Of course, financial stability is important, too.
I wouldn’t say I’m particularly materialistic, but
I grew up with the mindset that it is nice to afford a
certain quality of life without constantly
worrying about money. Ultimately, the dream is to
have enough space – both financially and
mentally – to balance work, personal life, and
potentially a family in the future.