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Victoria Yakusha

Victoria Yakusha is a Ukrainian designer, artist, and architect based in Belgium, and whose philosophy of 'live design’ centers around her connection to earth and cultural roots. Since starting her collectible design studio, FAINA, in 2014, Victoria Yakusha has created a distinctive aesthetic that brought her to the forefront of contemporary Ukrainian design.

Her designs have been exhibited at Design Miami/Basel, the Collectible Fair in Brussels, and Milan Design Week. She has received numerous international awards, including the Elle Decor International Design Award in 2019 for the best-emerging design studio and best design of the year ("Ztista" Collection), the Arte Laguna Prize in 2021 and the Public's Choice at the Dezeen Awards in the same year.

Victoria Yakusha emphasizes the use of living materials from Ukraine. She is also developing a material called Ztista made from recycled paper, clay, linen, and various natural elements, all biodegradable and worked by hand.

Awards

Exhibitions

2022
Stepping on Ukrainian soil | Design Miami / Basel | Miami, US

2019
Helsinki Design Week | Asun Magazine | Helsinki, Finland
Dutch Design Week | Kazerne Creative Hub | Kazerne, Netherlands

2020
London Design Fair | London, UK
Milan Design Week | Milan, Italy
Dutch Design Week | Eindhoven, Netherlands
Paris Design Week | Paris, France

2017
Stockholm Furniture Fair | Stockholm, Sweden

2019
Bologna Design Week | Bologna, Italy

Presse

2024
DEZEEN | The 50 most powerful woman in architecture and design

2023
STYLEPARK | Review - Milan Design Week 2023: CONTINUUM
ELLE DECOR UK | Ukrainian architects and designers share their hopes for the future
STIR PAD | Victoria Yakusha presents an eclectic ensemble of CONTINUUM in Milan

2022
ELLE DECORATION | Viktoria Yakusha : la voix engagée du design ukrainien
ELLE DECORATION | Avec les designers ukrainiens : «Je crois que nous allons survivre et tout reconstruire »

2021
IDEAT | Les luminaires Soniah se tournent vers le soleil pour illuminer l’hiver
ABITARE | FAINA, Ethnic Minimalism
DEZEEN | Yakusha Design balances rough and smooth surfaces  in Kyiv eatery Istetyka
T AUSTRALIA | The Ukrainian Brand Coinciding Their Collections with the Solstice

2020
WHITEWALL | Victoria Yakusha Designs Sustainable...
ELLE DECOR INDIA | Yakusha Design pens a love letter to minimalism...
DESIGN/MILK | The Soniah Lighting Collection Reaches for the Sky
HARPER'S BAZAAR ARABIA | Installation By FAINA Design Brings Abandoned Home In Ukraine To Life
AZURE | The Trend Report: Four Inspiring Directions for 2021
GOODMOODS | Faina, tradition contemporaine ukrainienne
DOMUS | Faina Design, the new Ukrainian design is looking for a “living minimalism”
DEZEEN | Sexy eco, monochrome and plus-size furniture: interior design trends for 2020

2019
FRAME | STOCKHOLM DESIGN WEEK
ARCHITECTURAL DIGEST US | 8 green ideas spotted at Stockholm Fair
VOGUE | 13 Dreamy Standsout
L'OFFICIEL | Не от мира сего: Съемка L'Officiel
DEZEEN | Yakusha Design applies dark tones throughout its Kyiv offices
INTERIOR BREAK | Il design ancestrale di Faina Collection