When I was 13, my mother took me to the Hermitage, one of the biggest museums in St. Petersburg. It is so huge, and at that time it seemed to me so boring that I fell asleep sitting on a museum attendant’s chair.
MAGAZINE · INTERVIEW
Vladimir Naumov
Vladimir Naumov is a Russian designer, architect, and artist, and the founder of Numo, a contemporary design studio whose practice explores the emotional relationship between people and everyday objects. Working across collectible furniture and functional objects, he reinterprets familiar forms through unexpected proportions, surreal compositions, and unconventional material pairings, creating pieces that challenge perception while remaining deeply human in their appeal.
Guided by an ongoing process of experimentation, Naumov transforms personal sensations and observations into sculptural furniture that balances function with visual storytelling. Characterized by expressive forms, bold material contrasts, and a playful yet refined aesthetic, his work seeks to evoke emotion and offer new ways of experiencing everyday objects. Through Numo, he continues to investigate the intersection of architecture, art, and collectible design, developing a distinctive body of work that blurs the boundaries between utility and imagination.
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Interview
Where were you born and where are you from?
I was born in a small Russian village. Now I’m living in St. Petersburg.
What is your first memory connected to the art world?
Have you always worked in the art/design field?
Yes! I finished art school, then I went to university to study architecture, design, and 3d design.
What led you to design creation?
Desire to create, not to consume.
How would you describe your creative process and its influences?
My creative process is directly related to 3d. First, I draw some forms by hand on paper, then I move on to modeling, then I do test renders, then I leave this form for a while and then come back, sometimes when I return, I see that this work is not worth continuing or vice versa, I see how to do it even better.
Could you describe a typical day of your work?
Actually, nothing special. Most of the time I’m at a computer because my main job is 3d design. Also, there are a lot of papers on my desk, which I draw and make sketches on first; after that, I start modeling.
It’s very convenient because you can jot down ideas and forms that come to my mind not to forget. It’s the same with commercial projects and my own. There is always some movie, live stream, or just music in the background.
Why did you choose the specific materials you work with?
Fur, combined with a simple and massive shape, makes you want to touch and feel small and in complete comfort. Such an object evokes emotions and is beautiful; this is really all that is needed.
All modern designers move away from function and meaning, focusing on emotions and beauty. The exact same thing is happening now in music.
What are the technical particularities of your creations?
There are no special features. As a rule, I always use simple shapes and materials. I only focus on beauty and emotion.
What advice could you give to beginning artists who would like to create sculptural design works?
You must constantly develop your taste, watch a lot of designers and artists, and look for other sources of inspiration. In the modern world, all you need to do is download Pinterest and Instagram. As for the creation process itself, you must master the skills of 3d modeling and rendering so that you can accurately convey exactly what you want. I think it’s a mistake to delegate the modeling process to someone else so that he does everything according to your sketch, for example. It’s almost like asking someone to draw a sketch for you. But the rendering process already needs to be left to professionals.
If your works had to belong to a design movement, how would you define it?
Honestly, I do not know. Difficult question.
What designers and artists have influenced you?
Philippe Malouin, Martin Masse, Yakusha Victoriya, Alina Mehrle (Asthetique group), Rick Owens, Kelly Wearstler, Francesco Balzano, Raphael Raffel, Pierre Paulin, Jean Prouvé, Oscar Niemeyer.
What contemporary designers do you appreciate?
Too many of them. Lots of talented designers.
What contemporary artists, in any kind of art, have you been inspired by?
Christiane Spansgsberg, Daniel Arsham.
If you had to summarize your creations in one word or sentence, what would it be?
Fluffy.
Is there anything you would like to add?
I want to add beauty to this world.
“Desire to create, not to consume.”
The Questionnaire
The Questions
(The Proust Questionnaire is a set of questions answered by the French writer Marcel Proust.
Other historical figures who have answered confession albums are Oscar Wilde,
Karl Marx, Arthur Conan Doyle, Stéphane Mallarmé, Paul Cézanne…)
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Independence
What is your greatest fear?
Confined space
What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
Perfectionism
What is the trait you most deplore in others?
Laziness
Which living person do you most admire?
–
What is your greatest extravagance?
Food and clothing
What is your current state of mind?
Busy with questions
What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
Chastity
What is the quality you most like in a man?
Humor
What is the quality you most like in a woman?
Humor
Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
I want to eat. Beautiful. Not Beautiful
Which talent would you most like to have?
Do not sleep
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
Nose. It is very big
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
I think it’s still ahead
If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be?
Pistachio without cracks
Where would you most like to live?
Balli
What is your most treasured possession?
Time
What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
Pistachio without cracks
What is your favorite occupation?
Design
What is your most marked characteristic?
Guy with a big nose
What do you most value in your friends?
Their presence
Who are your favorite writers?
Dostoevsky, Ray Bradbury
Who is your hero of fiction?
–
Which historical figure do you most identify with?
I don’t know
Who are your heroes in real life?
People helping animals
What are your favorite names?
Raphael, Takeshi, Ada
What is it that you most dislike?
Dentist
What is your greatest regret?
About nothing
How would you like to die?
In a dream from old age
What is your motto?
Do well, it will be fine
“I want to add beauty to this world.”
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