No company could be successful without a strong team. This month’s article is dedicated to our people. Since introducing each member with all of their amazing abilities would require a quite long read, we have decided to introduce the core team who directly works with our clients in more detail.
Olga Gubynska, Senior Designer
Originally from Ukraine, Olga started to work for 5 Star Plus Retail Design in 2018 and came to China in early 2019. A trained architect and designer, she owes it to her consistent commitment to learning and hard work that she has been selected as a master’s student for Tsinghua University’s prestigious EPMA (English Program Masters in Architecture), said to be the fifth-best in the world (BAM Ranking 2021).
Olga’s super skills:
Creating beautiful, high-impact design concepts based on even the most challenging project conditions to build powerful and authentic brands.
What we love about Olga:
Her positive spirit and ability to laugh in every situation. And knowing that we can always count on her.
What has been your favorite project so far and why?
I want to highlight three projects I like that represent the values and principles that the team and I apply in everyday work. 1) Store design for KJUS: This project was about creating a high-impact design concept and reflecting the brand values – high-tech, modern, and innovative. I believe that we have achieved these objectives. 2) Office design for Melchers: This was a great opportunity to create a healthier, more inspiring space for people and improve their daily wellbeing. 3) The Swiss National Pavilion at CIIE: The exhibition stand we developed was a representation of traditional values combined with new creative and open design elements. All three projects were created in collaboration between the client and the design team making the results possible.
Some of the projects that Olga has worked on:
Jacky Li, Senior Designer
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Jacky’s super skills:
High-speed design and technology integration to help retail brands stay relevant by creating stores that make customers feel good and inspire them. Finding a technical solution to any problem during a project. Ensuring concepts are built the way they were designed to guarantee a powerful, high-quality store experience.
What we love about Jacky:
His jokes. His speed and guidance during projects. His relaxed and professional nature.
What has been your favorite project so far and why?
My favorite projects are the design of Heineken Restaurant and Bar and the showroom for China State Grid because the clear definition of the clients’ objectives allowed me to develop a perfect design solution for their functional and branding needs. I really like the look of the two spaces that we created.
Here is a collage of some of the projects that Jacky has worked on:
Tim Sozashvili, Project Manager
Well-known already in Beijing and Shanghai, Tim has been handling project management for 5 Star Plus Retail Design for the past five years. His specialty is exhibition and event projects. Having lived in China since 2009, Tim is fluent in Georgian, Russian, English, and Chinese.
Tim’s super skills:
Working tirelessly day and night, often without sleep for days, to realize powerful, high-impact exhibition and event projects that have a great advertising effect.
What we love about Tim:
Tim is a great entertainer and keeps our team engaged. We love his kindness and warm-hearted, supportive approach toward everything.
What has been your favorite project so far and why?
The James Bond pre-screening event in 2021 was the biggest highlight of my 5 years working with 5SP. There was a lot of energy surrounding the project, generated by the people involved. Sponsored by many very cool brands, the whole atmosphere and look of the event were quite impressive and very different from the numerous projects I’ve worked on before. Being a huge 007 fan, I even had the opportunity to drive the legendary DB5. Who wouldn’t want to feel like an MI6 agent in a tailor-made suit for a day, right?
Here is a collage of some of the projects that Tim has worked on:
Viktoria Telkes, Design & Marketing Consultant
With her educational background and work experience in both marketing and design, Viktoria has the perfect skill set to advise clients with project needs that require both design and marketing work. A Hungarian national, Viktoria supports China and the European market for the company since 2019.
Viktoria’s super skills:
Analytical thinking and professional client management. Planning and executing marketing campaigns for companies that lost traction and helping position them into powerful, authentic brands that sell more.
What we love about Viktoria:
Her very professional work attitude and great team spirit. Her eagerness to walk the extra mile and create value.
What has been your favorite project so far and why?
My favorite project was Instituto Cervantes’s Marketing Research and Strategy Project. We worked as a strategic marketing partner of the Institute for one year. Our team’s task was to produce an in-depth report about the current marketing situation and develop strategic recommendations. After evaluating their existing approach and the feedback of students and stakeholders, we created a China-specific strategy. It consisted of writing and adapting content suitable to the Chinese market, identifying new target customer groups, and ideating strategic initiatives to build brand awareness and reach new students. The experience was very rewarding and an opportunity to grow as I was involved in the whole process working through the problem from research to solution and implementation.
Here is a collage of some of the projects that Viki has worked on:
What about everyone else?
The rest of the team is pretty amazing too! Tom Zhang, for example, has been taking care of our Beijing office and handling finances for over five years. Lily Liu and Ayu Li, our junior designers, are working in the background creating and executing design work to support all of our projects. Sophie Li and Denise Chen are creating content, supporting events, and handling media relations. Alena Olasyuk is making sure that all of our clients and our marketing applications fulfill a high artistic standard. And Barbara Seidelmann, our managing director, is everywhere and guiding everyone.
