- What economic and social benefits can design bring to Ukraine?

All that is man-made had to be designed by someone at first. Design is a process of willful creation of a piece or product. Naming it with this term gives us a possibility to start to communicate about a method with which we create. It can help us to use various techniques and tools, to use wide knowledge of our more experienced colleagues which is shared internationally. It can help us to do things more effectively, to gain on utility, reduce costs and price (and to keep free capacities for work on something else) and to create an enjoyable piece with high esthetic qualities.

- What design models can work and be successful in Ukrainian realities? And how we can implement them?

The decision lies on creators from Ukraine itself. They need to be in contact with world discourse, to discuss actual themes and solutions which have been already examined somewhere by someone. They need to study, to take part in conferences, international exhibitions, exchange trips, to participate  in a world progress and then to tell what they think is useful for local conditions. 

- Can you give us 3 successful examples of design/design thinking projects?

In my field of practice:

1. meetings of Trans Europe Halles network - gathering of leaders from cultural centres all around the Europe that happens twice per year and where they share their experience and know-how, formulate joint policy for authorities on the communal and European level.

2. Slovak design centre – national institution in Bratislava which proactively researches and presents Slovak design with exhibitions and national design award.

3. Nová Cvernovka creative centre – a close-knit community of architects, designers, photographers and other artists of about 200 people (which I am part of). We reconstructed an old school building where we work and cooperate on our architectural/design/art projects.

- What are the key ingredients in making creative hubs successful?

To work with passion is an absolute necessity. To be open and make decisions collectively with a common aim. Continuously search for the partners who share our vision and can help us to make progress. 

Short description of professional profile 

Peter Lényi (born 1986 in Považská Bystrica, Slovakia). With his friends, he started studio "2021" architects few months after receiving master's degree at Faculty of architecture at Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava. With his team he won several architectural competitions, organized some competitions for local municipalities, built some buildings, recieved Architecture prize of Slovak chamber of architects in 2016 for design of sightseeing point at the top of the hill near Žilina and received National prize for experimental communication design for design of analogue display at the entrance of historic centre of the city of Žilina. He is editor of Design handbook for cultural centres, which maps urban, architectural and design qualities of cultural centres, members of Trans Europe Halles. He lives in Bratislava with his wife and two kids.