Anadolu Isuzu Design Team

Could you please tell us more about your art and design background? What made you become an artist/designer? Have you always wanted to be a designer?

I am Görkem Erdoğan, the team leader of the Design Office of Anadolu Isuzu. I have always seen everyday products around us underdesigned. As a child, I used to find myself while thinking and imagining about improving products all the time. So I have studied Industrial Product Design in Istanbul Technical University.

Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?

Anadolu Isuzu is one of the leading medium-sized bus and coach manufacturing companies in Europe whose major shareholders are the Anadolu Group from Turkey, and Isuzu Motors Limited and Itochu Corporation from Japan. The company is the first Japanese joint venture in Turkish automotive industry.Since 2008, Anadolu Isuzu bus&coach product range is being designed by inhouse designers. As an inhouse design office hour main focus are bus&coach design. We are 5 designers nowadays and our design office is a part of the R&D. Until today, we have carried out about 40 bus&coach design projects.

What is "design" for you?

Product design is a problem solving activity of high complexity. It is absolutely not about art. It is not about since either. It is about human life. It is about how we interact with our environment, how we define our life. We, designers, make proposals about human interaction. Those which are accepted are added to human culture. It is much like the evolution and improves life.

What kinds of works do you like designing most?

We always liked large scale works which effect community directly. Our focus is to contribute to the improvement of mass transportation.

What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?

My favorite design is a mid-size coach, which is named Visigo. It offers its customers a great value for their money. It is designed until every single detail and pleasing to the eye.

What was the first thing you designed for a company?

My first job as a designer in the company was to design a dashboard and IP for a mid-size coach. It had cost and material restrictions. But it is the most important part of a vehicle. It is more like a work place of the driver.

When do you feel the most creative?

It happens when a compex problem arrives. We get together in the design office and work together. Usually, we find solutions to other problems as well.

Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?

It is always about the user. We, designers, can not force anything to users. Every design decision has to be made for the user.

What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?

I get anxious about the project. I feel restless and uneasy at first. I get more demanding of myself. But one has to remember that a designer has to patient also. Sooner or later, problems get solved and anxiety turns to satisfaction.

When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?

Does it solve the problem better than others? Can anyone use it? Does it use materials properly? Is there a simpler way? Does Dieter Rams' rules apply?

From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?

We, designers, define how we will interact with the environment, with each other. If we are good at what we do, society could benefit from it. We promote people to consume products. It is our responsibility to use sources properly.

How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?

Future of design is more collaborative, more digital. Every product is going to be connected. So, every designer will need to know basics of coding and telematics.

When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?

Our last exhibition was Busworld in Turkey, where we have exhibited many of our vehicles. Next one will be in IAA Commercial Vehicles Fair in Hannover.

Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?

Our main inspiration comes from young people. Every new generation confronts older habits in a much braver way. They make us think of new possibilities.

How would you describe your design style? What made you explore more this style and what are the main characteristics of your style? What's your approach to design?

Before making any design decision, we define our intention. We decompose the concept and only imagine its logic. We follow the 10 rules of Dieter Rams. They are always valid.

Where do you live? Do you feel the cultural heritage of your country affects your designs? What are the pros and cons during designing as a result of living in your country?

Our design team lives in Istanbul, one of the oldest and crowded cities of world. Culturally Istanbul has many layers, from Romans and Byzantine to Ottomans. Every single individual has to adapt to Istanbul. Yet, there are always many cultural potentials to exploit.

Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?

Young and coming designers should be persistent to get in touch with professionals. If possible, they should be around professionals, just to find out how they approach a project. They can send their works to get feedback. It is very valuable.

From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?

Negative is that, still, many people do not know what a designer actually does. Some people think that you are an inventor, some people think that you are a noob artist. But if you are an enthusiastic designer and get the opportunity to see your designs in realized, that

What is your "golden rule" in design?

Every design decision has to have a good reason behind. Design is about choices. From colors, to materials, from shape to cost. It cannot be arbitrarily.

Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?

To adapt to business, you need to divide design processes and to be able to work with deadlines. Design can be good only if it is done in time.

What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?

We always get asked for approval of material replacement in order to cost reduction.

What was your most important job experience?

The very first time my design was realized and has been shown to customers.

Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?

Due to confidentiality we are not allowed to talk about future products.