Educational institution: Escola Superior de Artes e Design, Porto (Portugal); Kingston University, London (UK)
Programme: Bachelor of Product Design (2012), Master of Curating Contemporary Design (2014)
What made you decide to become an industrial designer?
When my family gifted me a Portable Pattern Making Set on my 10th birthday, I was introduced to the idea of limitless possibilities by rotating the wheel of the toy, to select different items of clothing. Grasping the understanding that there could have been several thousand unique combinations as a result of this exercise was a life-changing moment for me, as a child. As designer and educator Victor Papanek said in 1971, “The only important thing about design is how it relates to people.”
In your opinion, what types of people are best suited for the profession of industrial design? What is a typical industrial designer like?
I believe a designer should be curious. Design is inextricably linked to every aspect of our lives, from our buildings, streets, education, food, and health care, to our communications, politics, and economic systems. The scope of work that designers are now tackling has expended. Industrial designers must be brave enough to try different approaches, flexible enough to adapt swiftly, but always keeping in mind the importance of doing the job well.
Where did you study industrial design and what was the most important thing you learned?
I’d started a BA degree in Turkey and then moved to Porto to continue my studies in Portugal. The sudden shift in culture and environment broadened the scope of my interests to a more global focus; I started questioning how design products translate across geographies. During my Master’s degree, I focused on contemporary design. The most important thing I learned was that the dissemination of industrial design through media, curatorial practice, research, exhibitions, and writing, is just as important as the practice of it.
What do you believe are the major obstacles or challenges for young industrial designers today from a professional standpoint? Are there additional challenges for women in the profession?
Global challenges have entered the public consciousness and now everyone is accountable to facilitate positive change. Although we are indeed witnessing much invention and innovation, it is also a challenging time for industrial designers, faced as they are with problems including climate change; the depletion of natural resources; work/life balance; economic instability; ethical conundrums raised by new forms of warfare; and social and political unrest. As we move further into the twenty-first century, young industrial designers are increasingly seeking new languages, forms, and methods to address these urgent challenges because traditional design approaches no longer suffice. In Turkey, raising awareness and elevating the influence of female industrial designers can also contribute to improving the conditions of women in the profession.
Tell us about the projects you are working on now.
I am currently working at a trans-disciplinary design, technology and innovation studio in Istanbul. The space aims to bring various design stakeholders together, to redefine design in different contexts, through systems thinking.
Of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals listed by the United Nations, which do you believe represent the most important challenges facing your generation today?
All the SDGs are important, but if I had to choose, I would say that establishing peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, providing access to justice for all, building resilient infrastructure, promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and fostering innovation for communities and cities are the most pertinent for me.
