We, as the Designer Interviews ("DI") had the distinct pleasure and opportunity to interview award-winning, most creative and innovative Baran Akalin ("BA").
Baran Akalın is an architect/designer born in Istanbul.He always has passion about cars, boats and water since from his childhood.Like almost any kind of vehicles has engine in it. He even started naming car types before start speaking around age 2 according to car's voices with his unknown language.In the process of growth , the idea of creating a living space outweighed. He studied architecture and started working right away one of the best studio in Istanbul. After 2 years of hard work, he decided upgrade his profession because he was dissatisfied with the construction industry.But did not want to give up creating living space. In 2011 , he started to study at Academy of Art university 'Master of Industrial Design' program in San Francisco , for combine his profession and be qualified for the boat design.With the closure of the boat design classes due to student incompetence, he started searching for other alternatives. His drawing instructor told him secretly that he needs to change his school and go to the Italy to study Yacht Design Master and warned him not to tell anyone because he could fired from the University. In 2012 , Baran Akalın changed his university and started 'Master in Yacht Design' in IED Torino / Italy. After the master, he selected as a intern by one of the best yacht design studio in Venice. After he complete his internship , he returned his homeland and started working as freelance designer for the design companies and boat brands. At the present time he has been actively designing and managing from mass production boats to custom design yacht projects since 2015 in his company and and design partner of Turknonik based in Istanbul. He is also lecturer at Maltepe University ' Yacht Design Section' which is second bachelor Yacht Design program in the world. With these futures he is the talker and yacht design consultant at IDD ( Italian Design Days ). Besides these , he is playing drums last 15 years in many different semi-professional bands and he believes that making music has a very important role in the development of creativity.
Baran Akalin Designs
We are pleased to share with you original and innovative design work by Baran Akalin.
Baran Akalin Design - Volcat 43 Power Catamaran
Baran Akalin Design - Hunters 40 Power Yacht
Baran Akalin Design - Escalade Trimonoran Motor Yacht
Designer Interview of Baran Akalin:
DI: Could you please tell us more about your art and design background? What made you become an artist/designer? Have you always wanted to be a designer?
BA : B.A. ; I educated in the areas of architecture and industrial design in the U.S. and masters degree in Yacht Design in Italy. I always have passion about cars and boats. Basically I like the vessels with engine and loud sounds.At the same time , I really care about my living space and love to create them.And like most of people I love the water and sea. When we combine these elements , designing yachts was unavoidable. J.B. : Struggle at many schools and became architectural engineer
DI: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
BA : Baran Akalın Design is a Yacht Design firm established in 2015 and reassures to crate perfect balance between aesthetic and functional system with timeless designs.. J. B. ; See www.anwigema.nl Many years of experience achieved by collaborating with some of the most renown design companies and shipyards brought me to become experienced in designing exterior/interior of custom yachts and serial production yachts, beginning from the conceptual drawings up to the production project and project management during construction. I am also academician on Yacht Design section and lecturer/concultant with Yacht Design at the Italian Design Days (IDD).
DI: What is "design" for you?
BA : B.A. ; Design is a piece of art that we can actually use or drive it. J. B. ; Result of combinations
DI: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
BA : B.A. ; I like to design mostly solid pieces with living space. Like 20 meters yacht. J.B. ; Finding possibilities
DI: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
BA : B.A. ; favorite one is my 20 meters concept design. Inspired by muscle cars and I called her a ' muscle yacht'. She has 3x 2500 HP engines and ready break the speed record. J.B. ; Still to come
DI: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
BA : B. A. ; First thing was a small 6.80 meters boat serial production boat. The shipyard is making 2-3 of them every month. It is called 'mini yacht' in the market. J.B ; Faster producing scale 1:1 detail drawings
DI: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
BA : B.A. ; My favorite material is stainless- steel. It doesn't get rust and stays the same for a very long time. J.B. ; People / situation / all
DI: When do you feel the most creative?
BA : B.A. ; When I have done all the things to do and when I am alone. J.B. ; Alone
DI: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
BA : B.A. ; Functionality and build process with high quality look. J. B. ; Alternatives
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
BA : B.A ; I feel very exited and keep thinking all the time in my mind in every perspective. J.B. ; Less
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
BA : B.A ; I can not describe them. But closest one is the feeling when I am fall in love. J.B, ; Doubts
DI: What makes a design successful?
BA : B.A. ; Has to be different and functional, but has to carry the some aesthetic rules at the same time. J.B. ; To exist
DI: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
BA : First I examine the functionality of the design. If there are some problems about it , the appearance is useless.
DI: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
BA : The designer should create new point of view on the design. Other wise we keep copy things and every thing looks similar.
DI: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
BA : Design will never end. Every level of our future, there will be another object to design. I think there will be so much solid designs will be in the future because of the 3d printer technology.
DI: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
BA : My biggest inspiration is music. Good quality music is inspires me a lot.
DI: How would you describe your design style? What made you explore more this style and what are the main characteristics of your style? What's your approach to design?
BA : My design style mostly is sportive and aggressive. Classic-muscle cars made me explore this style. 50 years old but still alive. I tried to make them as cool as possible and timeless.
DI: Where do you live? Do you feel the cultural heritage of your country affects your designs? What are the pros and cons during designing as a result of living in your country?
BA : I live in Istanbul and no the doesn't effect at all.
DI: How do you work with companies?
BA : J. B. ; Try to avoid
DI: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
BA : There are many good young designers in the market. I suggest the companies more working with them. Most of the companies stuck with old designers.
DI: Can you talk a little about your design process?
BA : Starting with sketches and going to 2D profile and layouts. These are very important to decide what the project will look like. After that 3d modeling and rendering. If every thing is good, starting to draw production project.
DI: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
BA : First one my seat of course. I can't live without a comfortable seat. Second one is my working table. I made a spacial big one just for my self and I really enjoy to work on that. Third one is my decorative dusk light.Also stylish speakers and real artwork picture.
DI: Can you describe a day in your life?
BA : B.A. ; Going to studio in the morning and meeting with some friends after the work. J.B. ; Get up, live, go asleep
DI: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
BA : Never limit themselves about the people around them and play an instrument , make a music. Specially being a member of a brand will keep them alive.
DI: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
BA : The negative thing is we spend so much time front of the computer/table. That effects your social life. But there are some positive things that ignore the negativity. Creating something from nothing feels priceless and honorable. Also another epic moment when I drive what I design is feels amazing. Only these things enough to spend all your time for designing.
DI: What is your "golden rule" in design?
BA : B.A. ; My golden rule is to create timeless designs that will never get old. J.B. ; Check, re-check, etc.
DI: What skills are most important for a designer?
BA : B.A. ; The most important one is ' Vision ' , others will follow. J.B. ; Knowledge
DI: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
BA : Photoshop, Keyshot, Rhino, V-ray, Alias Surface and Autocad.
DI: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
BA : Time is very important thing to manage. When I did my daily quests till midday , I start working to late night because 24 hours never enough. Most of the time I work on weekends.
DI: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
BA : It depends on the project. For example 12 meters power catamaran took 4-5 months to finalize. But bigger yachts like mega yachts take 1-2 years.
DI: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
BA : Unfortunately the most question is about the price of the yachts. I would be happier if people ask me about the design I made. Because there is so much to tell about it but only very few people cares about.
DI: What was your most important job experience?
BA : Most important one is my first job experience. It was a freelance job but big one for me to have responsibility of 33 meters yacht interior design. That experience was actually taught me a lot; how to deal with the client , how to deal with the shipyard and how to organize your work/project.
DI: Who are some of your clients?
BA : Shipyards , boat brands and business man/Clients.
DI: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
BA : B.A ; Most I enjoy to design range between 20 and 30 meters yacht. Because these kind of yachts are more compact , fast and better for also daily use. J.B. ; Problem solving
DI: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
BA : Making much better yacht designs and keep searching for the perfect balance between functionality and aesthetic.
DI: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
BA : Actually both. I am a design partner of another marine vessels company and also owner of my design studio.
DI: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
BA : I have been working on serial production power catamaran first time in my country's history last couple of months. It was quite nice experience that it was my first time designing a power catamaran interior and exterior.I enjoyed it alot.
DI: How can people contact you?
BA : B.A. ; www.baranakalin.com , akalin.baran@gmail.com J.B. ; E-mail: gjb@anwigema.nl, phone: +31 655 974 092
DI: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?
BA : Every idea cost money, design is creating alternatives