Interview with Gungor Guner

Gungor Guner ("GG") interviewed on Sunday, 18 March.

Could you please tell us about your experience as a designer, artist, architect or creator?

GG : 1958-62 I am graduated from the Ceramics Department of state College of Applied Arts in İstanbul/TR. 1964-67 Upon graduation I went to Germany with Ministry of Education Scholarship to study Ceramics and Ceramics Engineering. 1972-2008 I returned to my native country and entered Ceramics Dept. of State College of Applied Arts, which later became the Ceramics and Glass Dept. of Fine Arts Faculty of Marmara University Istanbul/TR, as an assistant, Associate Professor and Professor. 1996-2008 I had been head of department and retired. Since 2009-2018 as quest lecturer at the Fine Arts Dept. of İstanbul Technical University /TR.

How did you become a designer?

GG : During my stay in Europe 1964-72, I worked as a trainee at different workshops and factories in Germany, Holland, Denmark. As a result of written agreements, eleven vase designs of my were purchased by Hutschenreuter Firm in Germany for serial production. In addition, a complete dining set design was purchased for production by Goeble Company in series. Hutschenreuter Firm, indicating the design of Güngör Güner who worked the vases took place in some magazines for many years.

What are your priorities, technique and style when designing?

GG : After deciding what to do, since I am a very old ceramist, I first make my designs with clay. And I am using the computer's capabilities when necessary. I see it is a chance to have knowledge about both methods.

Which emotions do you feel when designing?

GG : Since I usually work with ceramic materials, the final result is very important. That's why the most exciting moment is when your product is out of the oven. Sometimes you may need to completely rebuild the product. The last word will be said in ceramics is always by the oven.

What particular aspects of your background shaped you as a designer?

GG : Ceramic engagement is an application that you can go through from the beginning to the end. This is also appealing to me. Until today, in my own workshop I have produced a large number of functional and non-functional ceramic as unique objects. But now I am aiming my accumulation to reflect to the series production over.

What is your growth path? What are your future plans? What is your dream design project?

GG : In my designs, I want to reflect both my own identity and the cultural accumulation of the geography in which I live in but a simple form! I would like to be able to make from glass, the Plexiglas vases which I participated in A Design Award competition.

What are your advices to designers who are at the beginning of their career?

GG : We are in Computer age, computer-aided design is a great possibility But I am stillthinking it would be very useful for a designer to have at least one or a more craft skills. Besides, very important for a designer candidate is as a back ground of an arts educations. Craft and Art and Design are like a three-feet. It cannot exist if someone is missing!

You are truly successful as a designer, what do you suggest to fellow designers, artists and architects?

GG : Yes, I am very concerned with the theme of handicrafts or arts education as back ground! But we have to learn all the opportunity that the computer can give us as gift.

What is your day to day look like?

GG : I am a retired instructor. I try to adapt my elected former unique designs to serial production. These are go on a little slower because of my age (76). One day a week I go to Istanbul Technical University. I give elective ceramics lesson. I have students from many different faculties. That day is the best day of the week because they like my class very much. I love the youth !

How do you keep up with latest design trends? To what extent do design trends matter?

GG : I'm not very interested in trends. I am very hard on myself that I already do. Except if there is a train I like it.

How do you know if a product or project is well designed? How do you define good design?

GG : Personality, Aesthetic, function, quality

How do you decide if your design is ready?

GG : The design process needs on me a very long time. I make a design first with clay after that I fire it in a ceramic kiln. If it’s all propositions after firing are correct and if I am agree with result It will be drawn at a computer the main form and its necessary plaster molds for the series productions.

What is your biggest design work?

GG : I have got some awards with my unique ceramics but last year I participated in the A-Design Award competition and received the Gold Award with the design of Turkish Coffee Cup. This was a design which I liked also and this was my first design award. It has been very important for me. Besides it was the first trial concerned my concept about “from potter’s wheel to the CNC tool. This concept is still going on for my other unique ceramic forms.

Who is your favourite designer?

GG : Mr Onur Müştak Çabanlı ! First off all I highly appreciate him that he designed a huge contest like A Design Awards Competition. Designer from all over the world met each other thank to his enormous idea. I also like his product designs very much. Besides I appreciate from Finland Kay Frank and from Turkey, Mimar (Architect) Sinan.

Would you tell us a bit about your lifestyle and culture?

GG : I am living in İstanbul. İstanbul is a very unique City on the World. Because of one part of city is in Europe, one part is in Asia. Between those two parts is Marmara Sea (Bosporus) I am living in Asian part of Istanbul. So some people travel between two continents every day. İstanbul is a very crowded city but very exciting too. The Anatolian Part of Turkey is a very multi-cultural area from prehistoric until new age. You can see the traces of this all in İstanbul too

Would you tell us more about your work culture and business philosophy?

GG : I am a person who chooses to work alone.

What are your philanthropic contributions to society as a designer, artist and architect?

GG : At the end of Ramadan every year, I donate a cordless chair to the disabled group. I also donate some of my ceramics for sales.

What positive experiences you had when you attend the A’ Design Award?

GG : I have had the experience of completing your very complicated application forms. Competitions direct me to work. I find it is necessary for me and for everybody. I am appreciating by the way this event a lot. No comment about designer of the day for myself

Gungor Guner Profile