Inside the Creative World of Designer and Traveler Oxanna Aejiou

Today, we have the pleasure of featuring Oxanna Aejiou, a talented designer and founder of sansara.net.ua, a website that captivates true travel enthusiasts. In this interview, Oxanna delves into her unique approach to “casual time management” and shares her perspective on working with Mac platforms — a nod to her community of Mac users.

Interestingly, this interview was conducted nearly a year ago and was almost lost, but we're thrilled to have rediscovered it. Enjoy the read!

What Drives Your Work?

I pursue everything that sparks my interest and ideas that come to mind. Having a steady income from renting out my apartment allows me the freedom not just to live or travel — which can both become monotonous or exhausting — but to focus solely on what I truly want to create. My projects range from storytelling, travel guides, online games, product concepts, articles, and translations, to designing my own clothing and jewelry someday. I also develop travel routes and concepts. However, most of my time is currently devoted to photography, photo editing, and updating my website. Once or twice a year, I organize group trips. Occasionally, I take on commissioned design and website projects, mostly for people I know personally. These clients usually find me through my travel blog, which builds a community of future travelers.

Although organizing group trips is rewarding, it is also quite draining, especially for someone like me who is socially reserved. Despite this, I continue because it’s not about money but about helping people discover their own space. I avoid taking on work purely for financial gain, as it leads to severe creative burnout and depression. Thankfully, I’ve learned to recognize this and decline such offers in time.

I view money as a form of energy or water — inherently meaningless without a purpose. Money represents potential, a means to realize opportunities. The key is to align your work with your nature and passions. When you do, money naturally follows. Conversely, if you constantly scrimp and focus only on basic survival, financial flow diminishes. Inner poverty breeds outer poverty, while inner abundance attracts wealth. Spending more, allowing yourself freedom, creating joy, and being generous in all ways ensures a healthy financial flow.

My main project is the website sansara.net.ua, which features photography and travel content, along with a section on Buddhism. On sansara.net.ua/art/, longtime internet users can find my earlier graphic design work as Roxana.

What Does Your Workspace Look Like?

This is probably my ideal workspace.

I try to settle in beautiful locations so that when I glance away from the screen, there’s something delightful to see. My favorite working position is lying down with a pillow under my head, laptop resting on my stomach or chest. Sometimes I sit cross-legged on the bed in a meditative pose in front of my desk. I rarely use a mouse, having mastered the touchpad. When I need to draw, I pull out my Wacom Intuos 2 A5 tablet from my backpack. Although I use it only two or three times a year, it’s always worth carrying.

For three years, I used a Samsung Q35 13.3” laptop with Windows XP — which I still consider the perfect size for combining travel and work. Now, I’m gradually adapting to a new Sony Vaio 14” with Windows 7. It’s larger and heavier but faster with a higher screen resolution. Since acquiring a Nokia E71, which keeps me constantly connected, I no longer need to carry my laptop everywhere. The 14” size strikes a good balance between portability and usability.

I chose the Nokia E71 for its reliability — it even survived being run over by a car during a crash test and kept working! I’ve dropped it many times on various surfaces, and it’s still going strong. I appreciate things that I can trust to function without worry. This is the first phone I’ve owned for over a year. My only gripe is the small screen; otherwise, I’d buy the same model again.

My first photography attempts were on film, and I never accepted cropped sensors. When I learned the cost of full-frame cameras, I simply added the Nikon D700 to my wish list, along with quality lenses. While preparing for this upgrade, I bought a very old 28mm manual lens from a Bombay photo flea market. Shooting fully manual without autofocus or zoom was initially challenging, but I adapted and now prefer manual prime lenses. They force me to think more about each shot, carefully framing and composing rather than quickly zooming and clicking. This improves photo quality. I also find zoom lenses too complex and noisy; I prefer simplicity with quality.

I once owned a Hasselblad, but it was too complicated to operate, especially with my poor eyesight and tendency to confuse left and right, making focusing difficult. However, the few shots I took with it made me fall in love with Carl Zeiss optics. Two of my prime lenses — 18mm and 35mm — are Carl Zeiss, while the third, a Nikkor 105mm bought at the same flea market, still serves me well. Eventually, my perfectionism may push me to upgrade, but for now, it’s perfect.

Shooting with primes can be inconvenient, but the image quality justifies it. Although most of my photos will never be printed large or fully showcase my gear’s potential, I enjoy viewing and editing them immensely. Good equipment also offers tactile pleasure — the smooth focus ring, the weight in hand. When I miss a shot due to focus or lens changes, I remind myself that truly captivating photos rarely happen spontaneously. Unless you’re a field reporter, there’s usually time to prepare. If not, it’s no big loss. The internet is full of photos, and the world won’t miss one more from me.

What Software Do You Use?

I’m quite a retrograde — a surprising trait for someone who spends much time traveling. Web developers often complain about users like me when they check browser statistics. I never update software unless forced by circumstances and avoid learning new technologies until absolutely necessary. I frequent the same shops, eat at the same cafes, and remain loyal to familiar brands.

I build websites using Far Manager, a tool I’ve used for six years. Previously, I coded in Notepad, but its PHP handling was flawed, so I switched. Far Manager’s interface is simple — blue background with white text — evoking nostalgia for IT veterans. Friends often try to introduce me to more user-friendly or modern tools, but I resist. In 1998, an Indian web designer convinced me to switch from PaintBrush to Adobe Photoshop, and I’m grateful for that. Maybe someday, I’ll thank whoever helps me transition to another program.

I prefer the operating system that comes with my laptop for licensed convenience, always using English interfaces. I dislike localized software and disable all fancy UI effects, favoring a Windows 2000-like appearance. I have a strong aversion to Macintosh products because of their restrictive user paradigms, but if Adobe ever blocks pirated software, I’d happily switch to Linux. I don’t plan to grow a beard, but mastering the command line would be a joy — only when absolutely necessary!

For image management, I use Adobe Lightroom 3, exporting web-sized photos and refining them in Photoshop CS. Although I’ve tried Photoshop CS4, I tend to return to CS2 for its speed and familiarity since I don’t need advanced features. Occasionally, I use Adobe Illustrator or Flash when required. I upload files via FileZilla or sometimes Far Manager for easier editing. Other tools include Semagic, Punto Switcher with its typing log, and Abbyy Lingvo. I install all browsers I can find and switch between them.

My email has been web-based for years, hosted on Gmail with my own domain. Initially, I missed offline access, but now with constant internet on my phone, this is no longer an issue.

I use calendars mainly for reference, not strict scheduling. I sometimes outline task sequences or deadlines if clients require it or for website content publishing. However, rigid planning doesn’t work for me. The more tasks I schedule, the more likely I am to procrastinate by watching movies or shopping — a rebellious love for freedom. I create to-do lists purely for the joy of crossing things off, indulging in the illusion that one day I’ll complete everything and be free. Of course, that day never comes; lists grow, projects shift. Sometimes I write detailed task breakdowns to enjoy deleting lines more. Mostly, I keep projects in mind, feeling their persistent call to action. If I forget something, I sigh in relief — less work! But I remember all the exciting stuff.

I have an excellent but selective memory. I forget dates, names, and titles until I write them down, and I often mix up words or type/say one instead of another. Yet, my visual memory and imagination are perfect. In youth, I could recall lectures during exams by visualizing notes’ page layouts. Zooming in mentally allowed me to “read” formulas. Associations work well, too — I recognize people who resemble others only I see as similar and remember if I photographed something similar elsewhere.

I check email almost constantly on my phone and respond immediately. Whether walking, on a bus or train, or bored in meetings, I dive into the online world — no automation, just me. On my computer, I keep Google Talk running for message alerts.

I use Skype and Google Talk for messaging but mostly for business calls, avoiding chats. Occasionally, I call people I know personally.

Does Paper Have a Place in Your Work?

Rarely. Sometimes I make simple sketches or structural outlines to visualize upcoming projects. These rough drafts are only understandable to me.

Do You Dream of a Perfect Tech Setup?

I dream of all my devices matching perfectly in design and color — minimalist and monochrome — and weighing half or even a third of their current weight. Unfortunately, that’s impossible. Otherwise, I don’t fantasize much about tech. If I feel something is necessary, I set a goal and achieve it.

Perhaps I wish I were less conservative and more adaptable with new technologies, but that’s a reflection of me, not the gear! ;)

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