Interview with Gungor Guner
Prof. Dr. Gungor Guner, a faculty member, ceramic craftsman, artist and ceramic designer, is one of the second generation ceramicists in Turkey who received academic ceramic education.
Designer of the Day Interview
18 March 2018
1958-62 I am graduated from the Ceramics Department of state College of Applied Arts in İstanbul/TR. 1964-67 Upon graduation I went to Germany with Ministry of Education Scholarship to study Ceramics and Ceramics Engineering. 1972-2008 I returned to my native country and entered Ceramics Dept. of State College of Applied Arts, which later became the Ceramics and Glass Dept. of Fine Arts Faculty of Marmara University Istanbul/TR, as an assistant, Associate Professor and Professor. 1996-2008 I had been head of department and retired. Since 2009-2018 as quest lecturer at the Fine Arts Dept. of İstanbul Technical University /TR.
During my stay in Europe 1964-72, I worked as a trainee at different workshops and factories in Germany, Holland, Denmark. As a result of written agreements, eleven vase designs of my were purchased by Hutschenreuter Firm in Germany for serial production. In addition, a complete dining set design was purchased for production by Goeble Company in series. Hutschenreuter Firm, indicating the design of Güngör Güner who worked the vases took place in some magazines for many years.
After deciding what to do, since I am a very old ceramist, I first make my designs with clay. And I am using the computer's capabilities when necessary. I see it is a chance to have knowledge about both methods.
Since I usually work with ceramic materials, the final result is very important. That's why the most exciting moment is when your product is out of the oven. Sometimes you may need to completely rebuild the product. The last word will be said in ceramics is always by the oven.
Ceramic engagement is an application that you can go through from the beginning to the end. This is also appealing to me. Until today, in my own workshop I have produced a large number of functional and non-functional ceramic as unique objects. But now I am aiming my accumulation to reflect to the series production over.
In my designs, I want to reflect both my own identity and the cultural accumulation of the geography in which I live in but a simple form! I would like to be able to make from glass, the Plexiglas vases which I participated in A Design Award competition.
We are in Computer age, computer-aided design is a great possibility But I am stillthinking it would be very useful for a designer to have at least one or a more craft skills. Besides, very important for a designer candidate is as a back ground of an arts educations. Craft and Art and Design are like a three-feet. It cannot exist if someone is missing!
Yes, I am very concerned with the theme of handicrafts or arts education as back ground! But we have to learn all the opportunity that the computer can give us as gift.
I am a retired instructor. I try to adapt my elected former unique designs to serial production. These are go on a little slower because of my age (76). One day a week I go to Istanbul Technical University. I give elective ceramics lesson. I have students from many different faculties. That day is the best day of the week because they like my class very much. I love the youth !
I'm not very interested in trends. I am very hard on myself that I already do. Except if there is a train I like it.
Personality, Aesthetic, function, quality
The design process needs on me a very long time. I make a design first with clay after that I fire it in a ceramic kiln. If it’s all propositions after firing are correct and if I am agree with result It will be drawn at a computer the main form and its necessary plaster molds for the series productions.
I have got some awards with my unique ceramics but last year I participated in the A-Design Award competition and received the Gold Award with the design of Turkish Coffee Cup. This was a design which I liked also and this was my first design award. It has been very important for me. Besides it was the first trial concerned my concept about “from potter’s wheel to the CNC tool. This concept is still going on for my other unique ceramic forms.
Mr Onur Müştak Çabanlı ! First off all I highly appreciate him that he designed a huge contest like A Design Awards Competition. Designer from all over the world met each other thank to his enormous idea. I also like his product designs very much. Besides I appreciate from Finland Kay Frank and from Turkey, Mimar (Architect) Sinan.
I am living in İstanbul. İstanbul is a very unique City on the World. Because of one part of city is in Europe, one part is in Asia. Between those two parts is Marmara Sea (Bosporus) I am living in Asian part of Istanbul. So some people travel between two continents every day. İstanbul is a very crowded city but very exciting too. The Anatolian Part of Turkey is a very multi-cultural area from prehistoric until new age. You can see the traces of this all in İstanbul too
I am a person who chooses to work alone.
At the end of Ramadan every year, I donate a cordless chair to the disabled group. I also donate some of my ceramics for sales.
I have had the experience of completing your very complicated application forms. Competitions direct me to work. I find it is necessary for me and for everybody. I am appreciating by the way this event a lot. No comment about designer of the day for myself
Design Legend Interview
14 May 2024
1958-62 she studied ceramics in the State Collage of Applied Arts. Upon graduation she went to Germany with the
Ministry of Education Scholarship to study Ceramics and ceramics engineering.
Ministry of Education Scholarship to study Ceramics and ceramics engineering.
I'm a ceramist who left behind fifty years. The formation of ceramics already includes the design phenomenon
too.
too.
As I was a ceramist, I was automatically within the design phenomenon.
Mostly Tableware and two and three dimensional another objects too.
They should training in different craft and production centers like glass, wood, ceramic…
To be a good designer can everybody; to be a great designer one must have art and sciences skill
too.
too.
A good design must to have a function, aesthetic and quality.
A good design sells better.
I don’t know
I was taking part last year whit a group vases by A’Design Award Competitıon but without success! Used
material was plastic (I dislike plastic) This year I aimed these to do by glass ( it is very difficult)
material was plastic (I dislike plastic) This year I aimed these to do by glass ( it is very difficult)
Aesthetic and function of course possibility for production.
Kay Frank from Finland
First fall I love glass! Kay Frank did glass
My Turkish coffee cup design which has been awarded by A’Design Gold Award is at the same time very
functional and it has got a good expression which I am satisfied about it: The cloud relief is expressing the
Ottoman’s culture and the geometric handle form is expressing the Seljuk’s culture. The cylinder form symbolizes the Republic which is carrying the both culture in to today.
functional and it has got a good expression which I am satisfied about it: The cloud relief is expressing the
Ottoman’s culture and the geometric handle form is expressing the Seljuk’s culture. The cylinder form symbolizes the Republic which is carrying the both culture in to today.
I am asking for myself if I made a design object:” Would you like to buy yours object to use in your home ? “Be
sure I am using my own design objects in my home.
sure I am using my own design objects in my home.
I don’t know.
Aesthetic and function, of course possibility for production.
The years behind me as student and as lecturer with different experience in and out of my country
The years behind me as student and as lecturer with different experience in and out of my country
The obstacles always exist before and still! First you have to convince the manufacturer. At last the user must to
like your design. The masses may not like what you like.
like your design. The masses may not like what you like.
The designers are mostly not a good seller! Therefore they need a professional marketing institution like your
company.
company.
I was taking part last year with a group vases by A’Design Award Competitıon but without success! Used
material was plastic because of its transparenty (actualy I dislike plastic, that was a wrong chosen) This year I
am aiming these to do again by glass (But it is very difficult)
material was plastic because of its transparenty (actualy I dislike plastic, that was a wrong chosen) This year I
am aiming these to do again by glass (But it is very difficult)
Aesthetic and function.
I am not able to know that.
I've witnessed that after sanitary industry could deliver rather cheap sanitary ware it was a big positive
development in our country.
development in our country.
I was taking part last year with a group vases by A’Design Award Competitıon but without success! Used
material was plastic because of its transparency (actually I dislike plastic, that was a wrong chosen) This year I
am aiming these to do again by glass (But it is very difficult) Origin of these vases were ceramic but I am
aiming to see these vases in transparency form.
material was plastic because of its transparency (actually I dislike plastic, that was a wrong chosen) This year I
am aiming these to do again by glass (But it is very difficult) Origin of these vases were ceramic but I am
aiming to see these vases in transparency form.
My Turkish coffee cup design which has been awarded by A’Design Gold Award is at the same time very
functional and it has got a good expression which I am satisfied about it: The cloud relief is expressing the
Ottoman’s culture and the geometric handle form is expressing the Seljuk’s culture . The cylinder form
symbolizes the Republic which is carrying the both culture in to today. Besides it had got the A’Design Gold
Award.
functional and it has got a good expression which I am satisfied about it: The cloud relief is expressing the
Ottoman’s culture and the geometric handle form is expressing the Seljuk’s culture . The cylinder form
symbolizes the Republic which is carrying the both culture in to today. Besides it had got the A’Design Gold
Award.
I don’t know .
I don’t know.
It depend up to design, but it takes with me mostly long time.
In my own ceramics atelier.
To go on to design for myself as long as possible.
I am agree with the opinion “designs sets the trends but the trends sets the designs too”.
The role of technology is one of the most important elements to designing .
As I am a ceramist I am using mostly my already atelier. Of course when I need sometimes the books,
computer, CNC, glass other silk screen atelier I used too.
computer, CNC, glass other silk screen atelier I used too.
I think the customers should have an opportunity to choose the same design in different color. in conclusion we
are designing for our customers.
are designing for our customers.
Of course they can ask something but I will be very happy if they like it .
Of course I am appreciating always the new great designs in case I really liked it.
Of course we needs often the help of some engineer or master but I do not believe Co-design.
I can't remember any people until now.
I can’t remember! There are so many years behind me .
The years behind me as student and as lecturer with different experience in and out of my country.
With student .
Sorry but I am not famous !
Red, Istanbul/TR., Yoghurt soup, Autumn, Hot shower, A’Design Award .
In our childhood I and my brother we were building always a kiln if we found three stone it was enough for our
kiln! He is a ceramist too.
kiln! He is a ceramist too.
As I was a ceramist, I was automatically within the design phenomenon. More than 50 years! We are very close
to design as a ceramicist. We are always within motivations
to design as a ceramicist. We are always within motivations
In our childhood there was no word for designer yet!
The geologists don’t talk us any good stories about the future! What can I say ?
The geologists don’t talk us any good stories about the future! What can I say ?
Designer Interview
26 November 2024
Parallel to my studies on ceramic art, I have also crossed half century as an educator. If you add the learning period to this ten years, I've been doing this for sixty years in total. I continued my education in Germany too. I have worked in different companies abroad. My studies cover different areas of the ceramics (superficial, three-dimensional,functional,conceptual). Many years ago during my education in Germany, I was able to sell functional product design to be produced in series to two important companies.
Nowadays I am interested in the integration of computer technologies that have developed in recent years with ceramics. The Turkish Coffee Cup form I participated in this competition is the result of such a study.After designing the tile design which appeared on the attached photo, it was printed on a ceramic tile by a special digital printing machine for the ceramics color. Then it was produced with a limited number of silk screen methods and it was presented to private customers as a new Year gift of an important ceramic tile company.
Craft+ Art+ Design and manufactural or Industrial productions
I am an old ceramist. So I am designing mostly ceramics; two or three dimensional ceramic objects. These might be surface designs for on the ready-made ceramics objects too.
My Turkish coffee cup design which has been awarded by A’Design Gold Award is at the same time very functional and it has got a good expression which I am satisfied about it: The cloud relief is expressing the Ottoman’s culture and the geometric handle form is expressing the Seljuk’s culture . The cylinder form symbolizes the Republic which is carrying the both culture in to today
Many years ago (1970) ten vases design by Hutshenreuter; while in that time I was student in Germany.
Ceramics and glass
Early morning
Aesthetic and function, of course possibility for production.
Happiness
One of the best gift for my life
Good design +advertisement
The both are possible but İt is nothing to do
Absolute hygiene for the user. Besides any poisons should not let to environment!
No comment
Fourth Design Week 2017 in Istanbul /Tr. I hope 6. Design Week 20019 Istanbul/Tr
I tried to add our culture heritage in to my design, but I elected them very meticulously. Besides I am translating some of my former unic ceramics work in to the Industrial design
Ambitious –simplicity, astatic, functionality and quality
In Turkey/Istanbul. It is my aim to have affects from our cultural heritage.. But I have been travelled (1972-78) a lot during my country to research the pottery areas. It was a big cons and still a cons. I lived and inspired abroad enough in my youth! Now is the time to live and be inspired by my own country.
Seldom whit companies, I am working mostly in my own atelier
I don’t know
I am working first fall with clay, later I am drawing the necessary plaster form by computer, later I am using the CNC to make the plaster form. At last by using core casting method for productions with plaster mold,
Turkish Coffee Cup, Dinner Set, Garden furniture, Fireplace, Pattern design on ready-made ceramic tile
One day in a week I am teaching in Istanbul Technical University in Istanbul. Another days could be very different. But mostly I am working in my atelier or visit an exhibition or I am listening a lecture.
First fall they should work in different productions center like glass, plastic, wood metal..
It is rather difficult but not impossible!
Functionality
To have a skill is wonderful but training in different craft and productions centers help to have got larger visions. By the way a designer must have got art and science skill too.
As I am a ceramist I am using mostly my already atelier. Of course when I need sometimes the books, computer, CNC, glass other silk screen atelier I used too.
I am an emeritus prof. and ceramist. Despite designing takes of me a long time; designing is for me an preferential and important, enjoy!
I have any idea
I am an emeritus prof. but I was invited to teach at one of the most important university of Turkey as visiting prof. Istanbul Technical University
In Istanbul /Turkey
Ceramics! Because I am ceramist.
I will be very happy if I can going on to designing.
Mostly myself.
I was taking part last year whit a group vases by A’Design Award Competitıon but without success! Used material was plastic (I dislike plastic) This year I aimed these to do by glass ( it is very difficult)
gguner67@gmail.com
The questions were too much and most of the questions resembled each other.
Interview about Turkish Coffe Cup Table Ware Grand Interview