Interview wiht our new stool TWIST designer Martin Lazarev by Maris Vahter, Radis Furniture.
Designer Martin Lazarev with stool Twist (courtesy of the designer)
Maris Vaher: How Are Ideas Born?
Martin Lazarev: Ideas emerge from a delightful chaos within the mind. Everything seen, felt, remembered—and those curious little sparks of cleverness—collide to form a new seed of thought. That’s when I step in, shaping it with my designer’s intuition. One solution leads to another, and out of nowhere, in the most unexpected moment, the right idea may arrive. It’s a game of sorts—a whimsical mix of curiosity and the irresistible urge to create.
MV: How Does Your Identity as a Designer Shape the Way You See and Shape the World?
ML: Sometimes an inventor, sometimes a stylist—often an illustrator and a visual composer. In between, there’s a little bit of everything. So, perhaps I’m best described as a creative thinker, a lifelong explorer, constantly tinkering and shaping. Design is all around us, and I simply try to leave my mark by adding something of my own. I’m endlessly curious about the “why” and always searching for “how it could be better.”
MV: What Stories and Systems Live on Your Desk, and How Do They Reflect Your Creative Mindset?
ML: My workspace is a ritual of order—yet ever-shifting depending on the project at hand. Colleagues have said they’ve never seen a desk so meticulously arranged (though perhaps they caught me at a lucky moment).
Sometimes it’s half-covered in vintage cameras and tangled cords. Other times, it’s a playground of cutting mats, glue, scissors, and blades. But always, always: a good desk lamp, one or two pencil cups, a sketchpad, a couple of charming antique paperweights (a touch of weight, a dash of character—see photo), a Koh-i-Noor Versatile mechanical pencil with a replaceable 2mm lead, a Lamy ink fountain pen, a chunky red pencil, plus my computer, monitor, and headphones.
Martin Lazarev`s desk and stool Twist prototype (courtesy of the designer)
MV: What Sparked the Journey Toward Creating the Twist Stool, and What Deeper Values Are Woven Into Its Design?
ML: The idea for the Twist stool has been brewing for years—I printed the first prototypes back in 2016. It was born from a fascination with connection systems. One moment, a clever spark: what if a stool could be assembled effortlessly, with a twist of ingenuity? This is more invention than furniture—yet it’s subtly refined, rooted in the elegance of retro-modern aesthetics.
Twist’s beauty lies also in its simplicity: it can be CNC-cut from a single sheet of material in one go. Manufacturing is streamlined, requiring minimal finishing. No tools are needed for assembly—just an ordinary pencil to unlock the stool’s secret. And when it’s time to move, simply disassemble and slip it into a tote bag.
MV: Who Is the Twist Meant to Delight, and What Kind of Lifestyle or Thinking Does It Celebrate?
ML: This clever little stool is for everyone who cherishes compact design and the charm of retro-modern style. Humble materials meet an entirely fresh take on stool construction. Something new and different—stripped of excess, brimming with thoughtful detail.
Sketches of stool Twist (courtesy of the designer)