Estimated read time: 7 min.
Pulsar devices are known for their advanced technologies. At the same time, a large part of their reputation is associated with original, functional design. Sergey Gurynovich, lead product designer at Pulsar responsible for the design of the new upgradeable Telos monocular line, shares his thoughts on how work on creating new devices is structured and why intuition and communication skills are of great importance.
Everything in Pulsar devices – external shape, location of the controls, the materials (and their texture) used, the size of the recess, and the curvature radii of the elements – is carefully thought out, verified, and designed considering the user experience.
Here, Sergey explains how he implements fundamental principles of good design into his daily work. From the interview, you will also learn how his professional and creative path developed and how it influenced the appearance of Pulsar devices.
Courage to be yourself
The architecture studies gave Sergey a deep knowledge of engineering, three-dimensional space, and art. The designer was especially interested in the founders of the architecture of modern “floating cities” and capsule houses – Kenzo Tange, Kiyonori Kikutake, and Kisho Kurokawa. None of these Japanese metabolic architects were included in the academic curriculum; their study came from Sergey’s personal initiative.
Among many important projects on Sergey’s creative path, there was one unexpected turn. The designer was invited to work on cryogenic surgery, where he developed devices for the removal of oncological tumors. “Despite all the “horror” that I had to face in the surgeon’s office while working on their equipment design and their ergonomics, it was an invaluable experience for me,” notes Sergey. “Work with surgical instruments required very detailed and careful sketch of every element, especially the smallest ones. That was a skill which was very useful during my future work on optical instruments.”
Sergey Gurynovich
Bound by one passion
After spending some time in Seul, South Korea, working with an international team at the Korean Institute of Design Promotion, the designer returned to Europe and had a fateful meeting with the late founder and CEO of Yukon Group, Aliaksandr Alsheusky. Together, they created the first night vision device.
Sergey remembers their first VIP show of this device at the Photokina exhibition in Cologne, Germany. Back then, the original prototype of the device was stolen right from the exhibition table.
“That’s how we realized that the project was promising and is going to be successful,” Sergey recalls.
Several more devices were produced a little later for Bushnell, Night Owl, and other brands. “We developed and produced about 4-5 new products over a year,” says the designer. “I liked this pace because I don’t like to work on one thing. If I dive deeply into one project, there is a high probability of becoming obsessed and that would just slow down my whole productivity.”
Discipline and motivation brought results. “A. Alsheusky kept everyone in the right shape. Also, we were all driven by the main thing – we had a dream to reach the international level with our designs. We wanted our devices to be sold all over the world,” tells Sergey.
We were all driven by the main thing – we had a dream to reach the international level with our designs.
Sergey Gurynovich
Sergey working with an international team at the Korean Institute of Design Promotion
Telos – sustainable innovation
One of the newest projects Sergey was working on was the Telos thermal monocular line. The first two models of it, the Telos LRF XP50 and Telos XP50, were just introduced last year. It’s the first upgradeability project on the market and a truly unique product featuring the highest sensitivity in the monocular category.
“I wanted to create a new monocular with soft lines so that its concentric shape would clearly and organically fit with several lenses and a rangefinder. There could not have been any fractures in this design principle,” says Sergey. “This was a very difficult task since, at first, the layout of the internal components did not allow it. Together with A. Olshevsky and other designers, the scheme was redone several times until a convenient and harmonious version was obtained.”
The world of ideas
Once asked to share the secrets of his creative process, Sergey explains: “I receive an outline from which a new product must be created. Before starting sketches, I come up with an idea, like a “fairy tale”. Afterward, I develop this idea on a device, giving free flow to my imagination and creativity. I do not limit myself to boundaries at that moment – I draw everything that comes into my mind, no matter how bold and unrealistic these visual images may look. Later, I tell myself to stop and delete everything I drew before from the computer so that there are no memories left in my head. And then I start all over again, from a clean sheet of paper.”
With this approach, consciousness generates the most workable ideas, and they go beyond the boundaries of today’s reality.
“If you draw only for the sake of form, then you won’t get anything innovative; you will repeat yourself. There will be a compilation of what already exists with our competitors or our own company. And when you come up with your new idea and begin to develop it – it becomes a new object, inimitable and unique.”
As for inspiration, the designer noted, “the topic of weapons, optics, and hunting is always present in my information space. This is what I live by. My favorites are Beretta, SIG Sauer, Heckler & Koch, Walter, and Glock. And when it comes to professional camera equipment – Hasselblad. The scope of attention is not only the devices themselves but also things around the subject. I watch how the handles are made, pay attention to the screws and the button designs, too. I’m interested in how the devices turn on, switch, and always note elements I like.”
Sergey also named his love for science fiction as a separate passion. The first optical instruments he drew were inspired by Star Wars.
Great ideas accept the challenge
There may be 10-15 sketches of a new device. And each of them is an almost completed project developed for the required functionality. The decision of which one will go into production is always difficult and very responsible. There can be a lot of discussions and hard debates at this development stage.
Who or what is decisive in making the final decision? “There is no clear answer to this question,” says Sergey. “Intuition, courage to make decisions, communication skills. We challenge different points of view, dive deep into production details, and rely on each other’s ideas to find the right solution.”
Nevertheless, “there were cases when we refused one or another design because at that time it seemed premature to us. We were afraid that people wouldn’t understand and the market wouldn’t accept it. And then suddenly, after some time, we were surprised to discover our earlier abandoned ideas by other manufacturers. For example, SIG Sauer once released a whole series of devices, including night lights, binoculars, etc., in the style in which we were drawing 3-4 years before.”
However, in general, our devices are “highly valued in the professional technical design community.” Receiving the approval of your colleagues is very valuable and always pleasant. However, the most important recognition comes from real device users. It pleases and pays up all efforts, attention, and love poured into the created devices. During the IWA exhibition in Nuremberg, Germany, looking at the crowd of people at the Pulsar stand, Sergey deservedly noted: “We are great, we did a great job! We have something to be proud of.”
Principles of good design
According to the designer, good design is, first and foremost, ergonomic. It’s never about making an exceptionally beautiful unit. “Devices are purchased to be used, and therefore, it is important that they are comfortable. They should be comfortable to hold in your hands, press buttons freely, easily change focus, remove the lens caps, etc.,” says Sergey.
Ergonomic design is not only his exclusively personal vision but also part of the user experience. That is why Pulsar carefully studies user reviews and the opinions of professionals to take them into account in the new modifications on the devices. “If we cannot change something, it is only because the element base does not allow us to do it freely,” notes Sergey.
He also emphasized the importance of the uniqueness of the devices. And that is not only a matter of honor but also an important component of creativity. According to the designer, companies that ignore uniqueness, explaining it as “style”, often hide behind a lack of imagination.
Fortunately, the opportunities for innovation will never run out. Pulsar is expanding its capabilities, including employee and technology development. And this opens new opportunities for further design innovations.
“It’s important to remember that true professionalism comes from the little things,” says Sergey. “Every small part of the device must be made so clearly and precisely adjusted that there is nothing to complain about. And this is the basis for saying that our products are of high quality.”
For Telos, I wanted to create a new monocular with soft lines so that its concentric shape would clearly and organically fit with several lenses and a rangefinder. There could not have been any fractures in this design principle.
Sergey Gurynovich
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