Interviewe mat House of DIV by Gulsah Surel Erdem

Well… I’m an architect. It was my childhood dream. Philosophy, symbolism and history of art are my hobbies. Architecture experience, jewelry design course from GIA and hobbies come together, House of DIV was born.

Anything can inspire me in an unexpected time. It could be an object from a museum, a sentences from a book page or a view of nature.

I certainly knew I wanted to be a designer when I was nine.

I design conceptual jewelry. My collections have an inspiration and have a content, meaning, a philosophy come from that inspiration. I combine them in my designs with a contemporary way.

Thank you... I think a designer should look and see... should feel... should think...

A great designer can see has nobody has ever seen, can think nobody has ever think.

I think a good design has to be unique, ergonomic, timeless and meaningful.

This completely related intellectual level, awareness and life style.

I would like to design for Tiffany&Co. Tiffany's collections have a story, as like as mine.

I believe that one day someone will wear my design, I don't know who is yet, I will say, yes, she is.

I believe that a magic of golden ratio from sacred geometry like a Leonardo Da Vinci.

I like the thinking way of Carlo Palmiero.

Mushroom Collection from Palmiero. He uses colors perfectly.

I can't choose one :) My Sacred Bowl Ring which is the Gold Winner at competition is my favorite. It's great because of its unique form and its meaning. But I should tell my another favorite, Megaron. That form comes from Architectural History and gives an inspiration my master collection and my brand.

I read books, travel and visit museums, take photos ( it helps for seeing instead of looking) and take courses and courses and courses...

I'm sorry :) but I don't know.

Design is a form of human brain to think in a different way.

My husband and my little son... They believed me I decided to change my carrier.

I can say my architectural education and my hobbies for sure.

Great question... A design master should know everything about manufacturing. Techniques, materials, tools, norms...

Displays, lightings, packaging are very important and I think they should also design for each collection.

I have already design a new collection. Inspiration of new collection comes from math. I cant give another hint :)

My dream is House of DIV will be well known design jewelry brand all over the world.

People who like design are looking for unique and timeless pieces and if they believe that piece gives them a talisman and its personalized, they like to wear and keep it for aa long time.

Design is awareness. Awareness is essential to better society.

My new collection... Its inspiration comes from math and at the same time has a great philosophy.

My Megaron Collection. Because it's architectural, timeless, unique and the heart of my brand.

I hope that it becomes easy and feasible patent issues.

Multifunction designs will be important, I think.

In a very short time. I'm very excited about my inspiration. I finalize my design project in max one month. But manufacturing takes a time of course.

First of all I need and inspiration. After that I begin to research about that. Than I make a sketches and drawings. I make a prototypes after all.

'' Less is more...'' Mies Van Der Rohe said.

Well, it changes. I want to believe that design sets the trends.

Softwares are quite helpful. But I prefer hand sketches and make a prototype in my hands. Manufacturing in traditional way is my favorite.

I use and AutoCAD and Rhino. My favorites are my jewelry making tools anyway. Working with them is like a meditation.

My designs whispering to me which color and material what they want.

I'm very happy when they asked me the story behind my design.

''So, why did not I think that...'' :)

No, I don't believe in co-design. A design idea should belongs someone, but a collection can be improved with a design team.

Philosophers, art historians and some of my friends.

''Chariots of the Gods? - by Erich von Däniken'', ''The Ancient Secret of the Flower of Life, by Drunvalo Melchizedek'', ''The Golden Ratio, by Mario Livio''

Work, work, work....

It's a wonderful question... I would like to meet with Leonardo Da Vinci. That would be great!!!

Artists are fed with applause... I was proud.

Black&White, all historical places, spaghetti, Summer, my sketch pen and Kaufman Franco.

I made a prototype of a ring with a wax when I started jewelry making. It comes 40grams after we produce with silver :))) It was quite heavy...

My son's smile and the sunshine are my motivation. One more; flowers....

My first childhood memory is collecting seashells from a seaside, coloring them with my grandmothers nail polishes and making necklace.

We understand that we are not alone in the universe.

I do my designs with love. I wish this love, this faith be felt by everyone...

To be an architect was a my childhood dream and it was real. I decided it when I was nine.

I have been working as an architect almost twenty year. When I combine my architectural experience, symbolizm and history art hobbies House of DIV was born. Architecture consists multidisciplines, I feel more free myself when I design jewels.

Design is combine of universe, sacred geometry, ergonomic, function and aesthetic .

I like to design conceptual collections. My each collection has a different inspiration, different story and different soul.

I can not say this is my favorite. Sacred Bowl Ring is a my last favorite one. It has a strong meaning and form. My Megaron Rings inspired by the Architectural History are very special. That collection is a master collection of House of DIV.

I think that what will feel a person who wears it.

I like to work with gold and diamonds and I prefer traditional techniques.

If something turns on a light in my heart when I am reading, watching or visiting, that's the time.

Meanings, geometry and ergonomics.

I lost the time when I design.

Artists like applause. I'm proud.

Their histories, meanings and golden ratio make them successful.

If you feel uncomfortable when you wear it, it's a wrong design.

Designers must raise awareness.

The intellectual level and awareness of people increases they seek out unique designs.

My last collection is represented in a historical place in Istanbul, Turkey which was built by Architect Sinan. We are planning to represent our collections in jewelry exhibition and trade shows in Europe.

Visiting museums, reading philosophy and visiting new places and sometimes my dreams feed my creativity.

Elegant, timeless, meaningful, contemporary and unique words could summarize my style.

I live in Istanbul, lots of different cultures and historical places are in here. Its a beautiful city for feeding a creativity.

Sometimes I design special collections for companies.

First of all their styles should match and they should give a detailed brief to the designer.

First, inspiration has come. Then I start researching about subject and design a concept. I read and reand and read. After that I make sketches and prototypes with my own hands.

My favorite one is a candle holder designed by me in my living room. I use it instead of ordinary lightings. Lots of candles frame create a fantastic atmosphere. 200 years old antique piano, my jewelry box is also designed by me, oil paintings and glass objects.

I wake up six o'clock and do yoga. After my son goes to schools I go work, then it flows. Whatever comes, I live it.

They should be fall in love with everything....

It gives me a great feelings to create new designs. Production side is more difficult. Because I belongs to manufactures. Their mood or capacities can be change day by day.

Golden rule is golden ratio...

Designers should see when they look at something. They should be able to make sketches and prototypes.

Books are about historical art, symbolism and philosophy. AutoCad and Rhino, molding waxes and jewelry making tools come after.

Unfortunately I am very bad at managing my time.

Sometimes one day, sometimes one year.

How do you create that much different collections :)

Working as an architect twenty years is the most important experience of mine.

Woman who has own styles, looking for unique designs and like a silent luxury.

I enjoy the design with a philosophy behind. Meanings, content and soul are very important for me.

I would like to present my collection to the world.

I develop my design myself. I work with a team at production stage.

I design a new collection inspired by math. I can't give another tips :)

I have a showroom in Istanbul, Turkey and my collections are sold in department stores in Turkey. We have ten different sales point and e-commerce is coming.

Thank you for the great interview... I'm proud.