Aleksandr Ristov

Aleksandr Ristov
Aleksandr Ristov in 2014
Born	(1934-09-14)September 14, 1934 Merisk, Khyragus
Nationality	Khyragusian
Occupation	Industrial designer
Known for	Sevir consumer products,

Early Life and Education

Aleksandr Ristov was born on 14 September 1934 in Merisk, Khyragus. His father was a railcar mechanic. Ristov began studying electrical engineering at Khasde National Polytechnic in 1952, however, he quickly changed to studying industrial design. While there, some of his designs — a clock and a typewriter — were exhibited at the Khasde Design Museum. Ristov was recruited to Sevir Heavy Industires as a design officer shortly after his graduation in 1956.

Career

Sevir Heavy Industries

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  Sevir R560 transistor radio, 1962

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  Sevir C2008K 8mm camera, 1966

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  M63 Chair, 1967

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  Sevir TR900 television set, 1969

Ristov began work at Sevir Heavy Industries in 1956, initially tasked with designed bedroom furniture. During this time in Khyragus, the government began promoting and developing the consumer products economic sector. Sevir Heavy Industries was challenged with making as many products as possible, while using few materials. This lead to Ristov to innovate, taking on a minimalist style, which was pervasive throughout his career. In 1961, Ristov became the head of Sevir's Consumer Electronics Division, where many of his most well-known designs originate, such as the TR900 television set. The large rise in international demand for low-cost, high-quality consumer electronics originating in Khyragus is often linked to Ristov's unique design philosophy and style. In 1969, Ristov became the Chief Design Officer for Sevir Heavy Industry's Consumer Products division, where he remained until 1977.

Unimatic Computer Systems Corporation

Ristov was recruited by Unimatic Computer Systems Corporation in late 1977. He was initially apprehensive about working for a computer corporation, as it was a new area in which he had little expertise. Unimatic Computer Systems Corporation, which had been successful in producing enterprise-level mainframe computers, was attempting to enter the emerging personal computer market. Ristov's first assignment was to oversee the development of the Vue_(Personal_Computer.

Design Philosophy

In part due to the design challenges faced when working at Sevir, Ristov created a set of principles that he applied to his products.

1. User Focus – A product should be designed with the end user in mind. It should be easy to use and understand.
2. Thoroughness and Intentionality – A product should be designed with the smallest details in mind, and how they integrate into the overall functionality of the product.
3. Durable – A product should be designed to last as long as possible, to conserve resources and minimize waste.
4. Modularity – Products should consist of modules, which are easy to repair and replace. Whole products should be considered modules of a set within a house or system.
5. Minimalist – Less is more. Simpler designs are easier to understand; they avoid following trends and always appear modern.
6. Sustainable – A product should conserve as much resources as possible.
7. Honest – A product must never present itself as being more than it is.