Musa Temel

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Musa Temel ("MT") 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?

MT : I hold a formal education and practical experience in 3D and technical design, specializing in digital modeling, prototyping, and detailed technical workflows across diverse project scales.

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

MT : The ability to positively impact people's lives through spatial experiences has always motivated me. Design gives meaning to function and beauty to purpose.

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

MT : I chose this profession with full intent. My inclination toward form, materiality, and human behavior naturally directed me into design.

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

MT : I mainly design residential and commercial spaces, but I aspire to focus more on public and cultural projects that engage with community and context.

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

MT : They should cultivate curiosity, embrace discipline, and learn from real-world experience. Building a critical eye and maintaining authenticity are essential.

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

MT : A good designer solves problems; a great designer redefines them, elevating the discourse of design through originality and depth.

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

MT : A truly good design balances function, aesthetics, context, and emotion. It speaks clearly and remains relevant over time.

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

MT : Good design enhances daily life, adds economic and emotional value, and ensures sustainability. It is an investment in long-term quality.

DL: What would you design and who would you design for if you had the time?

MT : I would design an open-access learning and innovation hub, especially for youth and communities with limited resources.

DL: What is the dream project you haven’t yet had time to realize?

MT : A multidisciplinary design campus that fosters collaboration between architecture, art, and technology remains a dream project for me.

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

MT : My secret is relentless observation—seeing the unnoticed, questioning the accepted, and constantly refining with purpose and clarity.

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

MT : Designers such as Tadao Ando, Zaha Hadid, and Carlo Scarpa have deeply influenced my perception of form, silence, and material integrity.

DL: What are your favorite designs by other designers, why do you like them?

MT : Dieter Rams’s minimalist philosophy and Renzo Piano’s sensitivity to light and place are exemplary to me.

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

MT : The “Mountain Winter House” is my signature work—conceived entirely from imagination, every detail crafted to harmonize nature and shelter.

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

MT : Continuous exploration, reading, travel, and hands-on building shaped my growth. Embracing failure as part of learning was crucial.

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

MT : If not a designer, I would likely have pursued philosophy or anthropology—both explore the fundamentals of human thought and space.

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

MT : Design, for me, is intentional creation. It is the discipline of shaping environments and objects with meaning, emotion, and ethics.

DL: Who helped you to reach these heights, who was your biggest supporter?

MT : I have been fortunate to receive support from visionary clients, committed collaborators, and my family—each contributing uniquely to my path.

DL: What helped you to become a great designer?

MT : Patience, persistence, and the willingness to start over many times helped me reach maturity in my design thinking.

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

MT : Access to resources, building trust, and breaking into established networks were initial challenges, especially while proposing unconventional ideas.

DL: How do you think designers should present their work?

MT : Designers should present their work through storytelling—context, process, and impact are as important as the final outcome.

DL: What’s your next design project, what should we expect from you in future?

MT : I am currently developing a sustainable coastal retreat—entirely off-grid, integrating vernacular techniques with contemporary detailing.

DL: What’s your ultimate goal as a designer?

MT : My ultimate goal is to leave behind a design legacy that empowers others, nurtures learning, and creates meaningful environments.

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

MT : People expect vision, consistency, and innovation. An esteemed designer must lead with humility while setting high standards.

DL: How does design help create a better society?

MT : Design helps create a better society by fostering inclusivity, improving well-being, and encouraging responsible use of resources.

DL: What are you currently working on that you are especially excited about?

MT : I’m working on an intergenerational co-living project that reimagines urban housing models with shared, adaptable spaces.

DL: Which design projects gave you the most satisfaction, why?

MT : Projects where I had full conceptual freedom and could personally oversee construction gave me the greatest satisfaction.

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

MT : I hope the design industry embraces more ethical responsibility—less spectacle, more substance, and deeper ecological awareness.

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

MT : Design is shifting toward circular thinking, regenerative materials, and artificial intelligence–augmented creativity.

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

MT : Depending on scale, a project can take weeks to over a year. Concept development usually takes the most time due to its iterative nature.

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

MT : I begin by understanding context: site, users, climate, and culture. Every design must be rooted in its surroundings.

DL: What is your life motto as a designer?

MT : "Design with intention, build with empathy." This motto guides both my creative process and professional conduct.

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

MT : I believe strong design sets trends. Authentic, timeless ideas often become reference points long after they’re created.

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

MT : Technology extends my capabilities but never replaces intuition. I use it as a medium, not a substitute for creativity.

DL: What kind of design software and equipment do you use in your work?

MT : I primarily work with software such as AutoCAD, Rhino, 3ds MAX, Lumion, and Adobe Suite, alongside hand sketches and physical models.

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

MT : Color, materials, and atmosphere define spatial emotion. They create identity, rhythm, and connection between space and occupant.

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

MT : I wish people asked more about the why—the intention, the story, the challenge—rather than just the visual outcome.

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

MT : When I see great design, I wonder about the unseen layers: the brief, the struggle, the decision-making behind it.

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

MT : An ideal partner is someone who challenges me intellectually, values collaboration, and brings complementary strengths. I believe in co-design deeply.

DL: Which people you interacted had the most influence on your design?

MT : Skilled craftsmen, critical clients, and passionate students have all influenced my design evolution significantly.

DL: Which books you read had the most effect on your design?

MT : Books such as Thinking Architecture by Zumthor and The Eyes of the Skin by Pallasmaa have deeply shaped my spatial philosophy.

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

MT : Through repetition, refinement, and risk. I never stopped prototyping, sketching, writing, and observing human behavior.

DL: Irrelative of time and space, who you would want to meet, talk and discuss with?

MT : I would like to meet Leonardo da Vinci—not just for his design genius, but his ability to think across disciplines and centuries.

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

MT : Awards are humbling. Recognition brings visibility, but also responsibility—to innovate, mentor, and remain true to one's values.

DL: What is your favorite color, place, food, season, thing and brand?

MT : Color: Charcoal grey. Place: Remote mountains or coastal villages. Food: Mediterranean cuisine. Season: Autumn. Thing: My sketchbooks. Brand: Muji—for its honesty and restraint.

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

MT : During a site visit, a client mistook one of my detailed concept models for a real miniature building and asked if we needed a zoning permit for it.

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

MT : Seeing a concept come to life motivates me. A successful design day is when the idea finally “clicks” after days of iteration.

DL: When you were a little child, was it obvious that you would become a great designer?

MT : Yes. As a child, I constantly rearranged furniture, built things out of scraps, and drew buildings no one asked for.

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

MT : In a thousand years, I believe we will design less for ego and more for survival—our tools may evolve, but purpose will remain human-centered.

DL: Please tell us anything you wish your fans to know about you, your design and anything else?

MT : I want people to know that design is a form of care. Every line I draw considers someone’s life, emotions, and future.