Design Legend Interview
50 questions
I studied Industrial Product Design at Gazi University in Ankara and graduated in 2013. Since then, I have worked across different areas of industrial and product design, with a strong focus on glass packaging.
Could you please tell us a bit about your design background and education?
I studied Industrial Product Design at Gazi University in Ankara and graduated in 2013. Since then, I have worked across different areas of industrial and product design, with a strong focus on glass packaging.
What motivates you to design in general, why did you become a designer?
I think I became a designer because I have always been curious about why things are the way they are and how they could be better. For me, design is a way of solving problems, but also a way of creating meaning and emotion around everyday objects.
Did you choose to become a designer, or you were forced to become one?
I definitely chose it. I always enjoyed drawing, making hand crafted things and observing objects. Industrial design felt like the perfect combination of creativity, problem-solving and the physical world.
What do you design, what type of designs do you wish to design more of?
My main field is packaging design, especially glass packaging for food, beverage and spirits brands. I particularly enjoy projects where the packaging itself becomes part of the brand identity rather than simply being a container. I would love to work more on projects where material, manufacturing technology, sustainability and brand storytelling come together.
What should young designers do to become a design legend like you?
Stay curious, observe everything, learn how things are actually made, understand business and listen to people outside the design world. And most importantly, develop your own point of view.
What distinguishes between a good designer and a great designer?
A good designer can solve a problem. A great designer can identify the problem behind the problem.
I also think great designers are able to balance creativity with reality. They understand the user, the business, the technology, the materials and the cultural context.
What makes a good design a really good design, how do you evaluate good design?
For me, good design has three qualities: it should be relevant, meaningful and appropriate. I ask myself whether the design solves the right problem, whether it communicates something clearly, and whether it has a reason to exist.
What is the value of good design? Why should everyone invest in good design?
In packaging, a few millimeters, a curve, a material decision or a small detail can completely change how a product is perceived. Good design is not simply an expense. It is an investment in how a brand is experienced and remembered.
What would you design and who would you design for if you had the time?
I would focus on everyday products that people use regularly but often overlook, especially household objects. These products have the potential to improve daily routines through small but meaningful details.
What is the dream project you haven't yet had time to realize?
I would love to create a completely new glass packaging system. A system that considers production, transportation, reuse, recycling, user experience and brand identity from the very beginning.
What is your secret recipe of success in design, what is your secret ingredient?
I don't think there is a magic formula. You have to keep questioning, keep learning and keep improving the work even when you are already tired of looking at it. And one more ingredient: caring about the details that nobody notices consciously.
Who are some other design masters and legends you get inspired from?
There are many, but I have always admired designers who were able to create a strong philosophy rather than simply a recognizable style.
What are your favorite designs by other designers, why do you like them?
I love the simplicity and emotional intelligence of Naoto Fukasawa's works.
What is your greatest design, which aspects of that design makes you think it is great?
One of the projects I am particularly proud of is the Avoya mineral water bottle. What makes it special to me is that the form, proportions, glass material, color and brand positioning were developed together. It was also very rewarding to see the project receive international recognition, including Red Dot Award. But more importantly, seeing the bottle actually produced and experienced in the market is what makes me proud.
How could people improve themselves to be better designers, what did you do?
I believe designers improve by designing, but also by looking beyond design. I spent a lot of time learning about materials, manufacturing processes, business, branding and consumer behavior. Working directly with manufacturers has taught me things that I could never have learned only from a design studio.
If you hadn't become a designer, what would you have done?
I have always been interested in making and creating things, so perhaps I would have ended up somewhere close to architecture, art or engineering.
How do you define design, what is design for you?
For me, design is ultimately about creating value through thoughtful decisions, while also recognizing the boundaries within which those decisions must exist.
Who helped you to reach these heights, who was your biggest supporter?
No designer reaches anywhere alone. Throughout my career, I have been supported by colleagues, mentors, clients, manufacturers and of course, my family.
What helped you to become a great designer?
Experience. Not just the number of years, but the number of different problems you encounter during those years.
What were the obstacles you faced before becoming a design master?
One of the biggest challenges was learning that a good idea is not enough. In the real world, design has to work within budgets, technologies, production limitations, timelines, regulations and business expectations.
How do you think designers should present their work?
They should tell the story behind the design. Don't only show the final beauty shot. Explain the problem, the insight, the exploration, the decisions and why the final solution makes sense.
What's your next design project, what should we expect from you in future?
I am increasingly interested in projects that connect packaging design with strategy, sustainability and manufacturing innovation.
What's your ultimate goal as a designer?
I want to create designs that people genuinely value, use and remember.
What people expect from an esteemed designer such as yourself?
I think people expect consistency, originality and responsibility.
How does design help create a better society?
Actually, design shapes everyday life. From the products we use to the way information is communicated and the systems we interact with, design influences our behavior and expectations. Good design can make things more accessible, inclusive, understandable and sustainable.
What are you currently working on that you are especially excited about?
I am particularly excited about the development of GCA Design Studio, where we respond to clients’ bespoke design needs and develop customized glass packaging solutions tailored to their brands.
Which design projects gave you the most satisfaction, why?
The projects that gave me the most satisfaction are usually the ones where there was a real challenge behind them. Avoya is one of them, because we were able to connect a distinctive form with glass production and a strong brand story.
What would you like to see changed in design industry in the coming years?
I would like to see designers involved much earlier in decision making. Design is often invited at the end of the process, when the important decisions have already been made.
Where do you think the design field is headed next?
I think the boundaries between industrial design, technology, branding and engineering will become increasingly blurred. AI will change how designers generate and explore ideas, but I don't believe it will eliminate the need for designers. The value of designers will increasingly come from asking the right questions, making judgments and understanding human needs.
How long does it take you to finalize a design project?
It depends completely on the project. A simple packaging project can take weeks, while a complex industrial or glass packaging project can take months or even longer.
When you have a new design project, where do you start?
I start with questions, not sketches. Who is it for? What problem are we solving? What is the business objective? What already exists? What can we change? Only after understanding the context do I start thinking about form.
What is your life motto as a designer?
“Make it meaningful.”
Do you think design sets the trends or trends set the designs?
I think it works both ways. Design responds to cultural and technological changes, but good design can also influence culture and create new behaviors.
What is the role of technology when you design?
Technology is a tool, not the purpose. It expands what we can imagine and manufacture, but technology alone doesn't create good design.
What kind of design software and equipment do you use in your work?
I use a combination of 2D and 3D design tools, including Rhino and Adobe CC, together with rendering, visualization and prototyping tools.
What is the role of the color, materials and ambient in design?
They are fundamental because people experience objects with all their senses.
What do you wish people to ask about your design?
I would love to ask what they felt. What did this design make them feel? Did it create a sense of curiosity, familiarity or emotion? For me, understanding how people emotionally experience a design is just as important as knowing what they think about its form or function.
When you see a new great design or product what comes into your mind?
My first reaction is usually curiosity. I immediately start wondering: Why did the designer make this decision? How was it manufactured? What problem were they solving? What could have been done differently?
Who is your ideal design partner? Do you believe in co-design?
Absolutely. My ideal partner is someone who is open-minded, curious and willing to challenge ideas rather than simply approve them.
Which people you interacted had the most influence on your design?
Working closely with people who know materials and production deeply has changed the way I design. It taught me to respect the intelligence of the manufacturing process.
Which books you read had the most effect on your design?
Books about design philosophy, psychology, creativity, architecture and human behavior have probably influenced me more than technical design books.
How did you develop your skills as a master designer?
There is no shortcut to developing design judgment. You have to sketch hundreds of ideas, make mistakes, receive criticism, present work, negotiate with clients and see your designs manufactured.
Irrelative of time and space, who you would want to meet, talk and discuss with?
I would love to have a long conversation with Leonardo da Vinci. Not only because of his artistic genius, but because he represents the kind of multidisciplinary curiosity I admire. I would want to ask him how he approached problems when nobody had established rules for solving them.
How do you feel about all the awards and recognition you had, is it hard to be famous?
Awards are wonderful because they validate the effort of a team and help a project reach a wider audience. But the greatest reward is still seeing a design become real, go into production and have a meaningful life in the market. And I don't consider myself “famous.” I simply feel fortunate to have my work recognized internationally.
What is your favorite color, place, food, season, thing and brand?
My favorite color changes depending on the context, but I am generally drawn to deep, muted and natural tones. I love places with a strong sense of history and character, especially cities where old and new coexist. As for food, I am definitely a Mediterranean person. My favorite season is autumn.
Please tell us a little memoir, a funny thing you had experienced as a designer?
One of the funny things about being an industrial designer is that you eventually start looking at everything around you as a design problem. I have caught myself analyzing the shape of a bottle, the ergonomics of a door handle or the opening mechanism of a package while everyone else was simply enjoying their day.
What makes your day great as a designer, how do you motivate yourself?
There is something very satisfying about starting the morning with a problem that seems difficult and ending the day with a new possibility.
When you were a little child, was it obvious that you would become a great designer?
I was always curious about how things worked, and I liked drawing and making things. Looking back, I can see the signs. At the time, I simply thought I was playing.
What do you think about future; what do you see will happen in thousand years from now?
A thousand years is almost impossible to imagine. But I hope that despite all the technological changes, humans will still value beauty, curiosity, creativity and meaningful experiences.
Please tell us anything you wish your fans to know about you, your design and anything else?
I don't really see myself as someone who has reached the end of the journey. I am still learning, still questioning and still making mistakes.