Yana Karnaukhova: Julia, could you please tell us about your journey as an interior designer and how you came to establish your own furniture brand, Logua Family?

Julia Ionova-Logua: By education, I am an environmental designer, and immediately after graduating, I started working at a design bureau. However, accumulated fatigue took its toll on me. After six months, I left and began exploring various international competitions in product design. This led me to participate in the SaloneSatellite in Moscow and the group exhibition at ISaloni in Milan. Subsequently, I won the Dauphin competition and traveled to Cologne and then to Switzerland to visit a factory. Upon returning to Moscow, I resumed working at the bureau, now with my good friend Slava Spitsyn. Over our ten years of collaboration, I believe we both have grown significantly professionally, as we were fortunate to work with major hotel brands. Through this, I realized that design is an integral part of a successful business. Big business demands large bureaus and diverse projects, but I, on the contrary, wanted to develop my own style and work with people who interested me, which I strive to do in my personal practice.

YK: What values does your furniture brand embody that are important to you as its visionary founder?

JIL: I am half  Georgian – Logua is my mother Nina’s surname. She was my most loyal friend and inspiration. This summer marks four years since she passed away. Logua Family is dedicated to her. It’s my form of escapism. I want the items not only to bring aesthetic satisfaction but also to evoke emotions and allow for fantasies. My mom was an excellent photographer, and this vast collection of slides from my childhood in Georgia became the beginning of the entire collection.

YK: Could you describe your creative process in developing the concept for a new design for Logua Family? How do you ensure that each piece aligns with your vision and values?

JIL: Ideas stem from photographs, memories, or simply the desire to experience a certain feeling. With Logua, everything is different from commercial projects. Here, it’s all about me and my fantasies, but I always rejoice when someone experiences similar feelings to mine, or perhaps the opposite. The reaction matters to me.

YK: Let’s delve into the stories behind some of the items in the first Logua Family collection. Could you share the inspiration behind the creation of the Pony coach?

JIL: Pony wasn’t the first, but I love it dearly. I wanted to create something that would allow one to feel like a child – it’s a pony after all! On the other hand, many note that the item is very sensual, which I also agree with. My mom was an incredibly attractive woman and never shied away from it. I love watching how people interact with it for the first time. Some immediately try out all the seating and lying options, while others feel very shy and don’t know how to approach it. I think such unconventional items help people feel freer, to open up.

YK: The name “Nina armchair” exudes individuality. What served as the inspiration for creating this chair and how does it reflect the essence of the brand?

JIL: Nina – that’s my mom. This item was the first. It’s feminine, graceful, and as sensual as a rose.

YK: The Family table implies communication and communal gatherings. Could you elaborate on what inspired the creation of this table and how it embodies the concept of family and unity?

JIL: With time, you inevitably think about aging. I see that as a woman, the beauty industry and pop culture constantly offer me eternal youth. Wrinkles, gray hair, scars are still not considered normal. The design industry also offers all sorts of new items, without preserving the old. A few years ago, I had a motorcycle accident that left scars on my legs and hands. I didn’t get rid of them – I live with them, continue riding a motorcycle, but I remember my reckless act. The table is truly the foundation of daily life. It’s involved in a person’s life from the very beginning and becomes a witness to various events. I wanted to create an item capable of being a visual witness to events. The tabletop is made of untreated leather – initially, it’s a delicate beige color, but over time, it absorbs all the traces of time, darkening and roughening. This table is my manifesto about accepting events as an integral part of the history of a family’s or individual’s life, about growing up and aging. I believe that everything that happens to us shapes our character and personality, and it’s important to remember this and learn to accept it.

YK: The Teddy chair sounds intriguing. What inspired the creation of its unique form and design?

JIL: Teddy is the Bear. It’s dedicated to my good friend. This chair is for when you feel lonely. It’s like it’s hugging you and protecting you from all possible troubles. It combines a simple and understandable form with a soft, natural back shape.

YK: What message or feeling do you hope to evoke in those who use your furniture?

JIL: Genuine emotions. Any. But of course, most of all, I would like people not to deny themselves the opportunity to fantasize.

YK: Looking into the future, what are your plans for Logua Family? Are there any new directions or expansions you envision for the brand?

JIL: After Collectible, I changed galleries. I think this will open up new possibilities for me, and I’m working towards that.

YK: In conclusion, what impact do you intend to make on the industry and professional community?

JIL: That’s too serious a question! I think I’ll just do what I like. If it inspires someone, I’ll be very happy.