YG15 Showcase: Ruslan Khasanov

Shining the spotlight on this year's Young Guns winners

Young Guns 15, arguably the most prestigious portfolio-based competition for creatives under 30, is going out with a bang! This year's winners were unveiled last week, and it's safe to say that this is one of the most eclectically talented classes in Young Guns history. 

Next week is the traditional Young Guns ceremony and party, (you've scored your tickets, right?) and nearly all of this year's winners will be travelling from across the globe, across the country, or across the Williamsburg Bridge to attend. Ahead of the festivities, the One Club for Creativity is highlighting many of the winners you'll be able to meet.

RUSLAN KHASANOV
Graphic Designer + Visual Artist
Based in: Yekaterinburg, Russia
Originally from: Yekaterinburg, Russia
ruskhasanov.com

SEE RUSLAN'S YG15 PROFILE + WORK

What does winning this award mean to you?

It’s a great honor to join the ranks of Young Guns winners! Actually this is the first competition I’ve ever entered, so this is a new experience for me. Once I noticed that some of my favorite designers had won, I told myself that if there was a competition in which I wanted to participate, it was Young Guns.  

" ...this is the first competition I’ve ever entered... Once I noticed that some of my favorite designers had won, I told myself that if there was a competition in which I wanted to participate, it was Young Guns."

How did you decide what to enter?

Actually it was easy. I just chose my favorite projects and those visual experiments that I'm most proud of.

Can you name any past Young Guns winners who you look up to?

The work of Stefan Sagmeister (YG1) and Alex Trochut (YG6) has inspired me for years. Also Gemma O'Brien (YG13); she is incredible. There are actually many Young Guns winners I could name. If you selected a number of  past Young Guns winners at random, you would still be delighted with their works. It’s so fantastic to be joining this talented group.

What keeps you going, creatively speaking? What drives you and your work?

My work is driven by the motto “beauty is everywhere.” I believe that visual beauty can be extracted from any object. I’ve worked with bruises, dust, blood, water, ice, oil, soap, salicylic acid, sunbeams and many other common things. It’s all about being constantly in search of new visual ideas, the desire to experiment with different things. I love it. My work is my life, and creation for me is a freedom.

Ruslan and his fellow winners will be honored at the Young Guns 15 Ceremony + Party, taking place on Thursday, November 16 at Highline Stages in Manhattan's Meatpacking District. 

Young Guns 15 is presented in proud partnership with Shutterstock, Levene/Leavitt and MTV.

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