Kurt Orkun Aktas

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Kurt Orkun Aktas ("KOA") 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?

KOA : I have graduated from university as an industrial designer. My master’s degree and my doctorate degrees are in interior architecture. During my professional career of 26 years, I have worked on interiors and also have produced a significant amount of product designs.

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

KOA : I have always perceived the design process as a methodology to improve life. Whichever activity that takes place under the definition of design has always given inspiration to create what has not yet been done.

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

KOA : It had been my personal goal to be engaged with design as a profession, beginning from the earlier years of my life.

DL: What do you design, what type of designs do you wish to design more of?

KOA : I design interiors mainly. I also design furniture and lighting fixtures for these interiors.

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

KOA : The biggest role of success is in continuous work efforts.

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

KOA : Time is the best determinant of success in design. If the design effort does not fade in time, but rather maintains a relative status of appreciation; then this design effort may rightfully be defined as good design.

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

KOA : Investing in good design improves lives of people. Good design is a goal but not a final point in time. I believe that appreciation of good design efforts improve and determine the life quality of individuals.

DL: Who are some other design masters and legends you get inspired from?

KOA : We are a generation who grew up looking up to the works of Philippe Starck. I believe that his perspective to design matters and of his responsabilities as a designer have been unique.

DL: What is your greatest design, which aspects of that design makes you think it is great?

KOA : I like to think that the best design is the one that I have not yet drawn. The next job, the next site and the next customer are the motivations I reserve for my future.

DL: How could people improve themselves to be better designers, what did you do?

KOA : Life experiences offer great solution alternatives while designing. I like to try new things and gain new experiences. I find that these experiences are crucial in the design of the new.

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

KOA : I have always perceived the design process as a methodology to improve life. Whichever activity that takes place under the definition of design has always given inspiration to create what has not yet been done.

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

KOA : There is a time in everyones life where experience builds up. That is the time to embrace new experiences and the time to try to take everything in. After a critical threshold, the design thoughts become more apparent quicker and a time where the designer gives back what he has absorbed begins.

DL: What people expect from an esteemed designer such as yourself?

KOA : This journey in design realm is in progress at the moment. I would like to invite all those interested in design, to accompany me in my self-journey in design.

DL: What would you like to see changed in design industry in the coming years?

KOA : I think that the design community should be better organized and better informed. The loose ties among designers and the view interpreting each another as rivals in competition diminishes any effect designers wish to create. I would like to see an improved amount of peer collaboration among colleagues.

DL: Where do you think the design field is headed next?

KOA : We are living in interesting times where it is perceived that visuals supplied from various social media platforms could replace designers. Every mobile phone is perceived as a tool by common people to help them make decisions regarding their design needs. Whatever may the reason be for such actions, it is always crucial to incorporate an experienced designer in the process of designing. Issues like material selection and color use are matters that impede final results of designs if selected poorly.

DL: How long does it take you to finalize a design project?

KOA : My design activity starts with extensive research. During this phase I do not draw. The research might take days or sometimes weeks. After research phase is done and I have no more questions to answer to myself, I prepare the preliminary design approximately within an hour.

DL: When you have a new design project, where do you start?

KOA : I work from larger scale to smaller scale. I always start with research, then move on determining function, user groups, gender. Then I move on to details.

DL: What is your life motto as a designer?

KOA : Never suggest what I can not fulfill.

DL: Do you think design sets the trends or trends set the designs?

KOA : Trends are visualized with design objects. Similarly I believe that groups of designs are used to formulate design trends.

DL: What is the role of technology when you design?

KOA : Technological tools are undoubtedly major utilities used while designing and visualizing design.

DL: What is the role of the color, materials and ambient in design?

KOA : All these criteria are vital in any design. The designs are determined as successful only when these aspects are combined in their correct values.

DL: What do you wish people to ask about your design?

KOA : They might wonder about color or material alternatives of my design. I would like to express gratitude for their curiosity.

DL: When you see a new great design or product what comes into your mind?

KOA : I start to evaluate how I would have dealt with the matter and further evaluate what my design would look like.

DL: Who is your ideal design partner? Do you believe in co-design?

KOA : I believe in the value of exchanging ideas with experts and reaching a synergy is important in any good design.

DL: How did you develop your skills as a master designer?

KOA : I have always tried to make my designs while keeping in mind the necessary manufactury specifications.

DL: How do you feel about all the awards and recognition you had, is it hard to be famous?

KOA : I feel that all the awards and recognition has placed large responsibility on my shoulders. It feels magnific.

DL: Please tell us a little memoir, a funny thing you had experienced as a designer?

KOA : In one of my construction sites, where work was rapidly progressing; I had found it more practical to continue to work at the site. However it was winter, I was in open air and soon enough I realized that I had to rotate myself around a single heater in order not to freeze. Additionally, coming too close to the heater would burn me and being too far away I would feel cold. I remember thinking that determining the correct proximity to the heater was also an important design parameter.

DL: What makes your day great as a designer, how do you motivate yourself?

KOA : Hearing my name being mentioned and responding to greetings from peers and colleagues boasts my confidence.

DL: What do you think about future; what do you see will happen in thousand years from now?

KOA : These current times where the whole planet is encountering the Covid outbreak, has taught us all valuable lessons in life. What had been our normals until yesterday do not exist any more. We are all experiencing conditions that we all are obliged to adapt to. If these are the current state of conditions, then in a thousand years from now I believe the only thing still valuable will be the merit in creative thinking.