Interview with Elkan Nuri

Elkan Nuri ("EN") interviewed on Tuesday, 14 August.

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

EN : I graduated in 2011. (Anadolu University – Industrial Design), I worked in different sectors, I decided to follow my dreams and established ENDESIGN, my own company, in 2017, I continue to provide design services both for myself and for big companies.

How did you become a designer?

EN : I used to check whether my shoelaces were symmetrical or not at an early age even before I started to talk. I have started to draw pictures at an early age. I believe that I perform a profession for which I was born, I have gained experience in the boat building sector, medical sector, furniture sector and urban furniture sector.

What are your priorities, technique and style when designing?

EN : 1. Setting up stage is the most important, 2. I develop the product by making the prototype after I have drawn it in the virtual environment. 3. The product that I have designed needs to perform its function in the most basic way, I also pay attention to the fact that it is environmentally friendly. Just drawing it in the virtual environment and visualizing it would not be enough, the virtual environment does not completely address the human feelings. The physical prototype is helpful in this regard.

Which emotions do you feel when designing?

EN : While designing a product, there are definitely painful periods, however when I start passing those obstacles one by one, and as every drawn line starts to have a meaning, it gives unbelievable pleasure to have everything in place. Design process is nice with the accompanying music or audio book.

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

EN : Dancing professionally has provided me much motivation. It has given me a different experience to slow down and watch the dance video and trying to do the moves by perceiving them in 3 dimensions. And the extraordinary successful music that I listen, stimulate different cells in the human brain by creating sparks.

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

EN : It would limit me much to list the designers that I like. Indeed, the Creator or the nature itself is my biggest source of inspiration. I have no concern for being remembered by others, my only concern is to explore the unlimited potential in me. There are designs that I have been doing, however I believe that my projects will come to better places due to my improvement in the future. I want to bring my own company to a better position and I want to reach out to more people.

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

EN : To know one’s self better and to specialize in a sector accordingly. To express the inner thoughts in a good or bad way without being influenced by others. To be able to defend the design made by oneself, to be able to support it, to pay attention that there is unity in the design. To try to follow the 10 golden rules of design. To make models and prototypes other than the virtual drawings and to analyze them.

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

EN : 8.There is no need to be in a state where you race with others, what makes you, is your thoughts and feelings. Your product will be unique. This is also the case for others. Share your information with your colleagues so that your information and happiness will increase more. There is no need to act in a prejudiced way; otherwise there are things that you are going to lose. There is no place for arrogance.

What is your day to day look like?

EN : It allows me to start the day happy to sleep less, learn a command in the drawing program after waking up or to obtain information. I happily make the calculation of what type of difficult design process that I am going to encounter today. It makes me happy to solve a small problem during the day, to be able to assist my colleague, to obtain an experience through my own effort, and not to understand how the day has passed so quickly.

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

EN : I don’t follow the design trends much. I try to use natural materials. I observe how designers are inspired by the nature while I study the products of other successful designers. At the end, I am enchanted by the nature with great admiration and I try to be inspired by the nature.

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

EN : A good design may be perhaps a very well set up design, perhaps a very well production method was provided, perhaps it is an environmental product which is not very aesthetic, and perhaps the cost of the same product was reduced. These are separately or altogether the indicators of a successful product.

How do you decide if your design is ready?

EN : A spark is created in me after I have completed the product; I believe that everything is where it is supposed to be. However, I am aware that the better may be made all the time. The better design is unlimited, generally the customers are time and cost, thus you need to quit. But I always seek the better in the unconscious mind.

What is your biggest design work?

EN : Eskişehir concept Tramway Stops Project. It has contributed me much as my graduation project obtained the highest mark and I was able to continue the project after school and was able to sell it to the municipality where I was located at, it became one of the most important transformation points for me on the way to become a designer. The other transformation point will be the A Design Award .

Who is your favourite designer?

EN : I would like to talk with the universe and the nature. How have you designed this delicate and good? I would like to ask about the details of design. I would like to ask about the mysteries of creation, get answers for them and use that information in my products.

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

EN : I have a very simple lifestyle. I have adapted to the culture in Turkey fast. I spend time to dance with the friends whom I love, I follow current issues. In the real sense, it makes me happy to just feed my brain. Neither money, nor a beautiful car makes me happy. I design a toy park for children in a big firm currently. We live in a gradually polluted world; I try to make producing environmentally friendly products the corporate policy of the firm.

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

EN : I adopted working individually as I have my own firm. However, in the environments where I am, I pay attention to the fact that my colleagues in are sharers and affectionate as I am. The failure of the design process to work well is one of the difficulties in my firm. But no difficulty influences my ideas and thoughts. I pay attention to the fact that my friends are open to criticism including myself.

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

EN : I have designed a logo in the Social Volunteers Movement Project. I would like to design toys for orphaned children. I would like to take part in many projects in this area.

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

EN : 1. Self-esteem, 2. Being known, to get to the next big target, 3. The fact that the award evaluations allow me to gain experience just like school juries, 4. Certification, the number of likes and views of my profile, 5. Being able to go beyond myself, push the limits, 6. You may not purchase the information which is obtained here with money:)

Elkan Nuri Profile