Interview
Yekaterina Ratner
Cloud Construct, United States
Kate is the Creative Director of Cloud Construct, where her passion for digital design grows with each technological innovation.
1 Please give us a brief bio of yourself and your background.
Hi, I'm Kate. As a Creative Director at Cloud Construct, I
2 What made you become/why did you choose to become a digital designer/artist?
I
3 What’s your favorite kind of digital design and why?
I love designing for mobile experiences, especially touchscreen kiosks and dashboards. I like the challenge of displaying complex data in intuitive and user-centric way.
4 To you, what makes a “good” design?
To me, usability is the ultimate proof of
5 Describe your design style and its main characteristics.
My style is minimalistic, clean, and well-structured. That
6 Tell us about your design process.
I
7 Where do you draw inspiration from?
I continue being inspired by the pioneers of the design world, including Massimo Vignelli, Paul Rand, Sol Bass, Neville Brody, as well as many other leading 20th century designers. I also draw inspiration from contemporary designers, by browsing awards sites, dribble portfolios, and attending design events and presentations.
8 What current trends in digital design (or really anything digital related) are you most excited about?
User experience design is more important today than ever: from driving a car by using a touchscreen, making a life-saving decision by viewing medical data, and so on, all require almost a neurosurgical precision in creating the right user experience.
9 Congratulations! As the winner of the 2020 Vega Awards, what does it mean to you and your company and team to receive this award distinction?
Thank you! It
10 Can you explain a bit about the winning work you entered into the 2020 Vega Awards, and why you chose to enter this project?
Our team was very happy when Kevin and Anne from GabrielesVault chose Cloud Construct to craft the user experience and bring their ideas to life. It was a pleasure to work on a mission-driven project aimed at bringing families and friends together and connecting people without the typical pressure of existing social media platforms. This project helps to connect generations and preserve family history, and we were honored to be a part of it.
11 What was the biggest challenge with this project?
The biggest challenge was keeping the right balance of design that can appeal to audiences of all ages and making the flow easy to understand for any user.
12 How has winning an Award developed your practice/career?
Winning this award inspires us to continue investing into the community and we hope it helps to spread the word about our capabilities and how we can help future clients.
13 What are your top three (3) favorite things about the digital industry?
It
14 Where do you see the evolution of digital industry going over the next 5-10 years?
I
15 If you were a student entering this industry or an aspiring Vega Award submitter, what advice would you give them?
To quote Vignelli -
16 What resources would you recommend to someone who wants to improve their skills in the digital industry?
A foundation of every good design
17 Who has inspired you in your life and why?
My incredibly talented family, Cloud
18 What is your key to success? Any parting words of wisdom?
Remember to listen to your users' feedback and look at your work through their eyes. People can
19 Do you have anything else you would like to add to the interview?
Try to enjoy all art forms, after all, the most talented people of their generation who created them!
