“Being comfortable is a scary place to be.” Yuriy Starikov on constantly pushing his practice

Meet Yuriy Starikov, a London-based freelance designer who loves to play and explore. Whether he’s working on a big contract for a major brand like Nike, collaborating with agencies such as R/GA, Huge, and AKQA, or setting up his own design studio, Starikov is always learning, fuelled by curiosity. In this candid chat, we get a peek into his world, learning about his design approach, the ups and downs he faces, and his love for 3D work. PT: Hi Yuriy! How’s this month treating you? YS: Hey Poppy, how are you? It’s off to an interesting start. I’ve just become available to take on new work again after a very long contract so it feels like starting a new chapter again, which is both exciting and scary at the same time.