Background

Victoria Yakusha is a Ukrainian designer, artist, and architect whose unique philosophy of ‘live design’ centers around a deep connection to the earth and ethnic roots. Born in 1982 in Dnipro, she earned an architectural degree at Prydniprovska State Academy in Ukraine and completed her studies at the Institut National des Sciences Appliquées (INSA) in France. In 2014, after the Revolution of Dignity in Ukraine, Victoria Yakusha established FAINA — a design brand of furniture, decor, and lighting rooted in Ukrainian cultural heritage. 

Signature Style

Both in FAINA and her limited collections, Victoria Yakusha presents a sensual and spirited take on minimalism. By merging her architectural background with her own laconic vision and the cultural codes of her ancestors, she has created a distinctive aesthetic that has brought her to the forefront of modern Ukrainian design. Constantly integrating artisanal techniques into her works, Victoria supports traditional Ukrainian craftsmanship and collaborates with Ukrainian artisans working with clay, wood, wool, and willow vine — living materials native to her home country. This connection allows her to bridge the worlds of the past and the future, where minimalist modern design takes shape through traditional millennia-old crafts that are often on the brink of extinction. 

Showstoppers

Every design by Victoria Yakusha embodies the mystery of handcrafted creation. Among her signature sculptural objects, some are made of a sustainable material called Ztista, which was invented by the designer herself. Ztista is a blend of recycled paper, clay, hay, and other natural elements and is designed to be decomposable in soil, returning to nature one day. “The artisans are the carriers of valuable knowledge, and I want to pass it on. I want to show their beauty to younger generations. When an object is made by hand, it possesses a very special energy,” says Victoria Yakusha