I had the unique opportunity to sit down with Denis Agarkov, a visionary in the realm of design. Before diving into our interview, I spent some moments experiencing the Icebreaker keyboard, his latest creation, which laid between us on the table. The weight and distinct edges of the keyboard were immediately noticeable, offering a tactile prelude to the insightful conversation that followed. As we drank our coffee, Denis shared his journey, philosophy, and the intricacies of his design process [...]

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KYLE MCKENZIE: Denis, could you start by sharing your thoughts on architecture and its influence on your work?

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DENIS AGARKOV: Architecture, especially the flatiron building in New York and a similar one in downtown L.A., has influenced me greatly. The wedge shape fascinates me, along with brutalist architecture in general. My aim was to create a keyboard that goes against the prevailing trends, adopting a more distinctive and challenging design. Due to the sharply terminating edge, it appears to be an optical illusion. Viewed from the right angle, it seems to be as flat as a sheet of paper, so in case of the buildings, it makes no sense that there could be a window, or any depth for that matter, on such a flat surface.

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KM: Why the name “Icebreaker”?

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DA: It's indirectly inspired by Vladimir Sorokin's avant-garde novel "Trilogy". My inspiration draws from a pivotal scene in which the protagonist, journeying through Siberia, encounters the Tunguska crash site and a life-altering meteor made of ice. This ice, piercing his chest, awakens a cosmic consciousness within him. The protagonist makes it his life mission to find and awaken others like him all across the globe using the peculiar method of smashing through their chests using a mallet crafted from the meteor's ice.This narrative, though seemingly distant from the realm of consumer electronics, resonated with me deeply. In my head I just kept coming back to those cosmic, ritualistic themes and visceral images. I had an urge to express something raw, unfiltered and brutal.

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KM: What inspired you to create “The Icebreaker”, and what was your approach to its design?

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DA: I've always loved mechanical keyboards and the tactile feel of the typing experience. Designing a keyboard seemed like a cool project. This niche is not like traditional consumer electronics where everything is microelectronics, the entry point from the engineering persepctive is easier. I thought this would be the perfect project to start, and I wanted to think in the framework of: Oh, this is the overall trend? How can you move against it? Rounded edges... Cool, let's make them really sharp.

My approach was to think against against prevailing trends. And I think it is a cool creative exercise.

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‍KM: Breakdown the technical aspects for me.

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DA: The Icebreaker is a 65% mechanical keyboard featuring full-height MX switches for greater customization, appealing to keyboard enthusiasts. I wanted to design something radically different, breaking away from common design elements like rounded edges with G2 or G3 continuity curves typical in Apple-style designs.

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KM: What were some of the challenges and considerations in the development of the Icebreaker?

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DA: One of the main challenges was balancing the design with practical considerations. For instance, the keyboard is intentionally heavy and large, which, funny enough, was a point of confusion for the manufacturers. Also, responding to community feedback and incorporating it without compromising the design vision was crucial.

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KM: What inspires your design philosophy and approach to creating new products?

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DA: My design philosophy is inspired by a range of influences, from watchmaking to natural formations in nature as well as engineering craftsmanship in different fields. I aim to create objects that are not only functional but also provoke thought and inspiration, much like works of art.

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KM: How do you see the relationship between functionality and art in your work?

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DA: I believe that functionality and art can coexist in a product. The goal is to create objects that serve a practical purpose while also being aesthetically pleasing and thought-provoking. This approach is about crafting items that can be admired for their design features and artistic qualities irrespective of time or trends.

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KM: Denis, your journey seems to encompass a variety of fields. Can you share how your diverse experiences influenced the design and creation of the Icebreaker?

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DA: My personal journey, from working on film sets and design to co-founding a telecommunications company, has greatly influenced my approach to design and creativity. Inevitably facing hard work that was not creatively stimulating, made me value my own creativity more, and provoked me to adapt a non-compromising approach to design language. The desire to create something raw, purely passion-driven led me to develop the Icebreaker and start Serene Industries.

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KM: In your experience, what would you say is the most important aspect of creating something? Could be anything…

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DA: Being uncompromising in terms of creativity is crucial. Artists often need to go through challenging experiences to truly value their own voice. This journey helps in developing a stronger, more expressive creative identity.

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Artists need to go through suffering in order to value their own voice. By default, you take it for granted and you don't really pay much attention to it. You need to be able to go through being unsuccessful and you also have to go through unforeseen periods of not having a luxury of being creative, in order to then value your creativity, to be in tune with it. As a result of such experience, you can become expressive, uncompromising. I think going through adversity and difficulty, both internal and external, is super important.

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