Ekaterina Khramkova is the first in Russia and the CIS countries to get a British diploma in Design and Branding Strategy

In 2005, Ekaterina Khramkova, Smirnov Design Business Development Department Manager at the time, won the Chevening Scholarship of the British Government for getting a Masters Degree in Great Britain. This grant provided her with the possibility to study one of the most interesting and fast-growing disciplines in the West – Design and Branding Strategy. Suffice it to say that the one-year course in Brunel University is unique even for the western educational system and it is meant to educate its students in the areas of design strategy, branding and management.

Ekaterina’s experience of working for a leading company on the Russian design market, Smirnov Design Group, played a significant part in the process of her education in London – the result was the first and for the time being the only Masters of Arts Design & Branding Strategy degree with distinction. Her knowledge and contacts with foreign design agencies will come helpful in her new role of Managing Director of Smirnov Design Group that in July 2006 signed a strategic alliance agreement with one of the leaders of the world design industry Design Continuum. The alliance between the two companies is aimed at providing the world quality, fast bringing to the market and success with the customer of the new products, in short, all that is essential for the process of new product development.