Nikolay Knyshov

My name is Nikolay, I’m 37 years old. I was born in a small city in the south of Russia in a mixed Ukrainian/Russian family. Currently live in Lisbon, Portugal with my wife Daria, who just started her sustainable clothing brand Birchy. She is taking her first steps as an entrepreneur.

Feel free to check out her webpage and leave your feedback here in the comments, she will be appreciated a lot 😊

We don't have kids yet, but we take care of a courageous and curious cat Lemur. She is smart and very affectionate. We 💛 her, she is a part of our family.

Background

I studied economics in Moscow, but I changed my mind once I graduated. So I tried marketing for a couple of years and switched to IKEA’s graphic design team, where my design journey started. Then I dived into web design. And since 2013 I practice product design in different scale organizations. Last 3 years I worked at Wrike. I managed a couple of small design teams, ran initiatives, and tuned processes for the x-functional teams. Currently, I spend 1-2 hours a week mentoring junior designers. Passionate about data and product management.

Preferences

I adore architecture, especially constructivism, populated by the Bauhaus school. Tel Aviv is a pure pleasure to my eyes in that sense.

I don't like winter and am interested in awkward vehicles, such as electric cars for two.

I’m a big fan of Dieter Rams’ ideology. His 10 principles of good design are timeless.

I learn how to play piano and dig into sound synthesis when I have time.

As Omer I don't spend enough time surfing 🏄‍♂️ But I hope to improve my skills in catching the wave in the upcoming summer.

My favorite book is ”Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance” by Robert M. Pirsig

I love movies made by Quentin Dupieux He films a bit weird arthouse movies with tricky endings and philosophical meaning.

Wes Anderson is a genius. His visual style and graphic design are impressive!

I love the enormous quantity of different musical styles from bands around the world, who write their music from the heart. Below you will find various tracks from my library: