Maino Design
*Maino Design Ukraine — agency engaged in research of the creative industries, creation of strategies for the development of individual sectors. It develops algorithms and maintains international cultural and economic relations (project launch/testing, presentations, and creative exports). She is the organizer of a number of projects for the international presentation of Ukrainian designers at Paris Design Week and the Maison&Objet industrial exhibition.
“Ukrainian design at the forefront” was the headline of a large article in the French magazine Le Figaro, published in January 2019. The author of the text, French journalist Margot Guicheteau, described the Ukrainian Design Brands project as one that, despite the political situation at the time, became a platform and an opportunity for Ukrainian designers to showcase the creative potential of Ukrainians.
Since 2018, thanks to its continuity, avant-garde spirit and open laboratory format, the Ukrainian Design Brands projects have helped to create a culture of collective international presentations of Ukrainian design brands.
Chronology of Ukrainian Design Brands projects. Organised by Maino Design Ukraine*:
Maison&Objet, Paris. September 2018
Ukrainian design brands
Ryntovt Design, Yalanzhi objects, NOOM, Grid Idea, ZEGEN
Maison&Objet, Paris. January 2019
Ukrainian design brands vol.2
MZPA, Qualita, Sergey Makhno Architects, Goloob, Next Level Lighting
Maison&Objet, Paris. September 2019
Ukrainian design brands vol.3
DONNA, Vahan Avakian, ZEGEN, NEXT LEVEL LIGHTING, SleepOnnn
Maison&Objet, Paris. January 2020
Ukrainian design brands vol.4
NOOM, Art & Design by Kristina Gaidamaka, Atelier Lilu, innazimina, Conférma
UKRAINIAN DESIGN BRANDS: TOTAL PRESENCE
Kooperative, Kyiv. September 2020
Art & Design by Kristina Gaidamaka, KASSONE, Container design studio, miracle2people, Sleep.Onnn, GOMINGIR, ZEGEN, GORN, RDWOOD by RYNTOVT DESIGN, FFFACE, Waone Interesni Kazki, Neutrum
2022
Maison & Objet, Paris. March 2022. Ukrainian ceramic and craft project
Participants: Anna Prysiuda, Diduh, GUCULIYA, Gushka, Mapico, Olga Radionova, WOOD MOOD, ZEMNA
Maison & Objet, Paris. September 2022
Companies and workshops participating in the exhibitions:
Ukrainian design Brands — DONNA, DALI HOME, LOFU, OITOPRODUCTS, WOO.
Ukrainian ceramic and craft — GNIZDO, MAPICO, QUIET FORM, Reshetylivka workshop SOLOMIA, STARITSKA MAYSTERNYA, ТВОЇ STUDIO, WOOD MOOD, YAKUSH TABLEWARE, ZEMNA.
Narrative: Every Ukrainian project today is a manifesto. A manifesto of endurance, a manifesto of freedom, a manifesto of an incredible ability to not only literally survive in extremely difficult and dangerous conditions, but also to continue to create, to be creative, to work.
Ukrainian design has gone through an insanely fast evolution. The war caught it in a period of real rebirth. And now, paradoxically, the horror of the situation has provoked an even more powerful wave of creativity and vitality. It’s truly incredible: only in recent months have new collections, new ideas, and new products emerged. Ukrainian designers and manufacturers took part in ALL international professional events in Europe and beyond.
The first shock has passed, and the war has given us even more inspiration to live, even more thirst for creativity, shown us new opportunities and opened up new markets.
Someday we will count the statistics, and they will be horrifying: the number of destroyed industries, years and decades of work lost, the number of people killed…
For now, we are counting the number of applications, and we are happy and proud: The level of products and ideas is impressive, exciting and inspiring. And each object today already has a unique story. We are so strong that we demonstrate not pain, but beauty and freedom, manifested in wonderful objects by extraordinary talented and free people who are scattered all over the world, but work for the brand “made in Ukraine”.
The freedom and courage inherent in Ukrainian creators are also manifested in the search for new combinations of familiar materials and techniques, new aesthetic interactions, and new forms.
Companies and workshops participating in the exhibitions: DONNA, DALI HOME, LOFU, OITOPRODUCTS, WOO. GNIZDO, MAPICO, QUIET FORM, Reshetylivka workshop SOLOMIA, STARITSKA MAYSTERNYA, ТВОЇ STUDIO, WOOD MOOD, YAKUSH TABLEWARE, ZEMNA.
2023
Maison & Objet, Paris. January 2023. Project “L’art de la résilience / The Art of Resilience. Ukrainian design and craft” / Pavilion 7, stand B115-C116/.
Narrative: Ukrainian design has never had favorable conditions for development. Today this art of resilience has become extraordinary.
Despite the tragedy happening now, Ukraine remains a territory of freedom, where the creative process is nurtured. Designers create new objects and collections that enrich and perpetuate the modern visual language of Ukrainian design. Aesthetic values of the 21st century complement the emotional meeting of modern design with a long rooted history and traditions.
Today we show how traditional culture grows into ethno romance, and how modern
production technologies do not deny natural materials. We continue to highlight our talent
and high skill of craftsmen, and how Post-Soviet history contributed modernist and
futuristic aesthetics.
These objects were created with the unwavering spirit of renewal that is part of our culture.
Therefore, no one can break the chain of this DNA.
We turn Resilience into an Art form and create the Future.
As part of the project, an exhibition of designer furniture, lighting, decor and art & craft objects was held at the exhibition in Pavilion 7, stand B115-C116 (from 19 to 23 January) and the conference “ADN du design ukrainien : tradition, émotion, liberté/ DNA of Ukrainian design: tradition, emotion, freedom” on 21 January at 14: 00 at the Academie Talk, Maison & Objet, pavilion 7.
Conference participants:
Victoriya Yakusha, Danuta Kril and Valerii Kuznetsov. Moderator: Sana Moreau.
Participants:
Andriy and Olesia Voznicki & Natura Ceramica, Valerii Kuznetsov, Otto Winken and Smith & Winken, Viktoriya Yakusha & FAINA, Danuta Kril & Guculiya, Denis Sokolov, SVOYA studio & DONNA, Dmytro Kozinenko & WOO, Kateryna Sokolova & NOOM, Mariia Puliaieva & MAPICO, Michael Samoriz & Memo mebli and GominGir, Natalia Bulanova & Staritska maysternya, Tetiana Krasutska & ZEMNA, Yevhenii Litvinenko & TheO wallpapers & Shishkaproject, Yuriy Ryntovt & Ryntovt Design & RD.Furniture. Straw decor “Didukhi” by SolomArt.
Partners:
Centre culturel d’Ukraine en France, Association Les amis de la culture ukrainienne en France, Galerie Sana Moreau, Association Design 4 Ukraine, O. M. Shumelda Design & Architecture Studio
Curatorial team: Anastasiia Biletska, Sana Moreau
Interior designer: Oksana Shumelda
Maino Design Ukraine team
Sana Moreau — Co-owner and director of Maino Design Ukraine, international project organiser, international communications specialist, founder of Galerie Sana Moreau, the first gallery of Ukrainian design and craft in Paris.
Anastasiia Biletska – Co-owner and creative director of Maino Design Ukraine. Curator of design and art & craft exhibitions. Co-organiser of Ukrainian collective projects at Maison et Objets, international design weeks: Paris Design Week, Milan Design Week, Zürich Design Weeks.
