In Profile:
DOTS&POINTS

Name: Irina Kireeva 

Company: dots&points

Position within company: Founder

Website: www.dotsandpoints.com

Tell us a little about your background in design:

Irina Kireeva is an architectural designer and the founder of dots&points architectural design studio. She graduated in 2015 from the Academic design school and at the same year Irina established  a design practice and started to work predominantly on residential properties creating inspiring and practical homes for the clients. The projects were many times featured in the prestigious design magazines such as Architectural Digest (AD), Elle decoration, in TV shows and nominated for the national and international awards. Irina is the member of British Institute of Interior designers (BIID) and The Society of British & International Interior Design (SBID).

How would you describe your personal design style?

As there is not any pure design style in the modern world, we enjoy mixing the contemporary styles with the traditional and ethnical elements depending on the environment, historic area or property, analysing the clients’ lifestyles and preferences. I believe that the art of fusion is as important as the seamless integration into the internal and external starting points.

Where does your design inspiration come from?

Inspiration comes from everywhere but it is very important to be open, to see, to feel it – “to see beauty in a grain of sand’ . Predominantly my design inspiration comes from traveling, communication and observation. It doesn’t matter how far – it can be to a far away place or a neighbouring park, to an isolated coast or a crowded street. When you are open to breath in the beauty it will get into you. Besides, I always believe that my clients are my source of inspiration and the more complex, knowledgeable and versatile the client is the more interesting is the project.

In what direction do you feel that design is moving towards in a general sense?

I believe design is moving to the emotional integration with the human being; to the reflection of people’s mindset; to the seamless integration with natural environment.

Name five key themes to consider when approaching design in 2023 and beyond.

Nature, human-centric, authentic, craft, comforting

If you could offer one piece of advice when it comes to design schemes, what would it be?

When it comes to residential property –  If the space allows I would always recommend to go for a one-story building and develop the project horizontally. If not than to have a thoughtful split of space on public and private areas and to develop a beautiful itinerary through your property.

How important are The International Design & Architecture Awards?

They inspire, motivate but at the same time simplify for our customers to make and justify their choices.

What projects are you currently working on?

It is predominantly residential projects of different scale and two public places (an office and a post-traumatic orthopedic clinic)

What was your favourite project to work on and why?

My favourite project is almost always determined by client. It is a double pleasure for me to work for a client which is interesting to me as a personality.

What was your most challenging project to work on and why?

One of the most challenging projects in my private practice was my recent project The Round House – the shape and the technical features of the construction required many unique solutions both technical and decorative.

Which products/services could you not live without when designing?

Reliable team, partners and suppliers; design applications and software; sampling service for design materials.

What are your aims and goals for the next twelve months?

To establish and expand my practice in the UK

Final thoughts; tell us a little more about yourself and your daily inspirations:

Your most treasured possession? my grandfather’s vinyl player and his collection of vinyls; old family photo albums

Your favourite holiday destination? I definitely do not have one, I have a long list of desired destinations which I love to explore one by one, but Normandy is always my melancholic harbour. I love seaside destinations but not necessarily southern ones

Your favourite hotel, restaurant & bar? A seafood restaurant on the beach

Your favourite book, film & song? Leonard Cohen’s songs, Marie Laforet’s songs, Andrea Bocelli

Your favourite food and drink? Pimp up salads; authentic regional dishes; vegetable smoothies

Your favourite way to spend an afternoon? Walking if not working

If you weren’t a designer, what would you be? I used to work in advertising developing 360-campaigns for global brands in Ogilvy. I loved it.

Anything else interesting? I recently moved to the UK and only paving my way in this country