Ufuk Bircan Özkan

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Ufuk Bircan Özkan ("UBÃ") for their original perspective and innovative approach to design as well as their creative lifestyle, we are very pleased to share our interview with our distinguished readers.

DL: Could you please tell us a bit about your design background and education?

UBÃ : I graduated from Middle East Technical University Department of Industrial Design in 2009.

DL: What motivates you to design in general, why did you become a designer?

UBÃ : I love to see people making use of my designs in daily life.

DL: Did you choose to become a designer, or you were forced to become one?

UBÃ : I willingly became a designer. I decided to be a designer at 2nd grade of high school and didn't change my mind then.

DL: What should young designers do to become a design legend like you?

UBÃ : I advise them to be really good at one particular talent. They must do at least one thing better than almost all other people. This can be design research, concept design, visualisation, material usage and knowledge etc.

DL: What distinguishes between a good designer and a great designer?

UBÃ : Good designer designs products everybody wants and uses. Great designers make people "wow!".

DL: What makes a good design a really good design, how do you evaluate good design?

UBÃ : Good design must be pure, simple and smart. It should visually interact with its users in every aspect.

DL: What is the value of good design? Why should everyone invest in good design?

UBÃ : Design is the discipline what makes life better. Good design brings it above average and provides a higher comfort.

DL: What is your secret recipe of success in design, what is your secret ingredient?

UBÃ : Questioning. I always question the conventional.

DL: If you hadn’t become a designer, what would you have done?

UBÃ : I would probably be an architect.

DL: How do you define design, what is design for you?

UBÃ : As design is one of the oldest activities in the human history, it is an inevitable daily habit for me too. Design makes a progress for your life, it makes the change between now and tomorrow.

DL: What were the obstacles you faced before becoming a design master?

UBÃ : The biggest obstacle is living in Turkey where economics effect the way customers and employers do work. It was hard to protect my designer identity and make it strong.