Kurt Orkun Aktas

I have graduated from university as an industrial designer. My master’s degree and my doctorate degrees are in interior architecture. During my professional career of 26 years, I have worked on interiors and also have produced a significant amount of product designs.

Aktas PCC is a prolific firm specialized in interior design applications. Design studies are made by firm owner K. Orkun Aktas. After initial design is complete then visualization and application stages are carried out to create unique interiors.

I have always perceived the design process as a methodology to improve life. Whichever activity that takes place under the definition of design has always given inspiration to create what has not yet been done.

I like to create projects for commercial and social areas; whether it is a restaurant, a cafe or a store.

The very first thing that I had designed in my office was a retail system for small electrical appliances of a major company’s retail points throughout Turkey. It was the design, manufacture and fitting of the system. The whole duration had been immensely educational and beneficial on my behalf.

I believe that a designed object or a space is at its best state when it is relieved from all unnecessary clutter. So when a design is both functional and yet simplistic enough, then it is near reaching my design criterias.

I undergo a feeling of respect towards the design task. This feeling is directed towards the customer, then the design itself and my contribution to the process.

The realization of a design is not always necessarily the end of the design process. The realization of the design is to make your own views publicly recognized. After realization, it is always an enlightening experience to gather feedbacks from others.

A design can be called successful when it is both functional and when it is in accordance with the design intention.

Our role in society is to improve people’s lives. As for the environment; certain sustainability issues must be dealt with thus referencing certain eco-friendly materials is a wise option.

Improvements in technology, materials and manufacturing systems have led to increasing amounts of personalization in both products and spaces. Manufacturers will need to take this change in consumer trends into consideration in future production perspectives.

I find using materials and techniques devised for certain purposes to be used in different contexts to be a rich experimenting field. The use of these existing materials and techniques bring out a creative synergy that positively effects overall design.

I believe that the most important part of the whole design process is the pre-design research phase. My main approach is to start designing after having evaluated existing products in the market, customer requests and technical necessities. All that is seen as the eventual design is always a solution to existing problems.

I live in Ankara, the capital and the birthplace of the Republic of Turkey. Ankara is Turkey’s second biggest city after İstanbul. It is a well organized city that is a balanced mixture of industrial, residential and commercial areas. All designs we produce in this city are of international standards and are positive contributions to the cultural heritage of the city.

The design process is in fact a mutual process. The relationship between the firms and the designers must be based on trust and transparency. Firms ought to be open to criticisms regarding their existing products and services. All parties should be open-minded to the creative process and aim to improve collaboration.

I try to reserve an important amount of my time to academic literature reviews. The rest is spent on daily tasks and family.

I believe honesty is the golden rule in design. Honesty to the design, to the customer, design team and honesty in use of materials is of great importance

My design activity starts with extensive research. During this phase I do not draw. The research might take days or sometimes weeks. After research phase is done and I have no more questions to answer to myself, I prepare the preliminary design approximately within an hour.

I have quite a number of corporate customers. Namely, YKM, Alstom, Ziraat Bank, Liva İncek, Ayeses Defence, Directorate General of Land Registry and Cadastre, Koleksiyon Furniture, Houston Hotel, Turkish-American Association are some of the more recognized ones.

I have had the opportunity to work on various projects ranging from bank branches to residential projects. So this has led to a wide scope of references. With each different project requirement, I have studied, learned and designed accordingly. I believe this has prepared me to become ready for a variety of projects. Instead of a being limited to single line of design, I have found it more professionally satisfying to work on different project scales and types.

I believe in the power of design to shape the future of humanity. I will continue to design and widen my personal network of designers via A-Design.

People curious about my works can send an email to aktasproje@gmail.com for further information. My personal web page is currently under construction

I have graduated from university as an industrial designer. My master’s degree and my doctorate degrees are in interior architecture. During my professional career of 26 years, I have worked on interiors and also have produced a significant amount of product designs.

I have always perceived the design process as a methodology to improve life. Whichever activity that takes place under the definition of design has always given inspiration to create what has not yet been done.

It had been my personal goal to be engaged with design as a profession, beginning from the earlier years of my life.

I design interiors mainly. I also design furniture and lighting fixtures for these interiors.

Time is the best determinant of success in design. If the design effort does not fade in time, but rather maintains a relative status of appreciation; then this design effort may rightfully be defined as good design.

Investing in good design improves lives of people. Good design is a goal but not a final point in time. I believe that appreciation of good design efforts improve and determine the life quality of individuals.

We are a generation who grew up looking up to the works of Philippe Starck. I believe that his perspective to design matters and of his responsabilities as a designer have been unique.

I like to think that the best design is the one that I have not yet drawn. The next job, the next site and the next customer are the motivations I reserve for my future.

Life experiences offer great solution alternatives while designing. I like to try new things and gain new experiences. I find that these experiences are crucial in the design of the new.

I have always perceived the design process as a methodology to improve life. Whichever activity that takes place under the definition of design has always given inspiration to create what has not yet been done.