We, as the Designer Interviews ("DI") had the distinct pleasure and opportunity to interview award-winning, most creative and innovative Seda Kalac ("SK").
Seda Kalac (1985) is a product and interior designer. She got her BArch in Interior Architecture & Environmental Design from Hacettepe University, Turkey in 2008. She studied in Product Design at Universita Iuav di Venezia Italy for an academic year as an erasmus student. After a professional career between 2008-2010 in an interior design studio, she started master program in Interior Design at Politecnico di Milano Italy and graduated in 2012. Thesis subject was; PAC Hamam: Padiglione Arte Contemporanea dell’Hamam di Ankara: PAC_Hamam is a project of converting an abandoned hamam, a traditional building of Ankara, Turkey, which is assigned the new feature of Contemporary Art Pavilion. She completed her internship in studio of Pierandrei Associati, Milan Italy. She worked in the interior design studio in Ankara as project coordinator between 2012-2015. She is founder of Sedakalac Design Studio and completed national and international many residential, office and hotel projects.
Seda Kalac Designs
We are pleased to share with you original and innovative design work by Seda Kalac.
Seda Kalac Design - Kardelen No30 Modern Villa
Designer Interview of Seda Kalac:
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?
SK : My passion for design started at the age of 4 by drawing on the walls of the house.
DI: What is "design" for you?
SK : sedakalac design studio is an innovative company that implements customer-oriented, functional spaces with aesthetic concerns and technological solutions.
DI: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
SK : Generally makes projects and applications in modern style.
DI: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
SK : Since I try to do a better job in each new project than the previous one, all projects have their place
DI: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
SK : An office project with floors, walls, ceilings and furniture
DI: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
SK : I prefer to combine various materials in my spaces and follow the innovations.
DI: When do you feel the most creative?
SK : Early in the morning with coffee
DI: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
SK : The needs and wishes of the client and the users. The habits they want to maintain and the habits they want to quit.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
SK : Satisfaction of leaving a mark on people's lives while producing.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
SK : The satisfaction of feeling that you have a mission in life
DI: What makes a design successful?
SK : Satisfaction of people using the venues
DI: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
SK : Is the function set up correctly and are the materials in place and used correctly..
DI: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
SK : With designs and material choices that respect nature, people and all living things.
DI: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
SK : Technology will affect our lives more
DI: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
SK : From nature, being alone and observing
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?
SK : We can say modern style, my education and tendency is in this direction.
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?
SK : I live in Turkey. While the empathy ability brought about by cultural factors affects the function in design, I have a modern style line since I lived in Italy for 3 years.
DI: How do you work with companies?
SK : With harmony and understanding
DI: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
SK : References are very important and education
DI: Can you talk a little about your design process?
SK : I listen to the customer very well, which habits they want to keep and which ones they want to quit, what their dreams and needs are, I carefully decipher them.
DI: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
SK : Lighting, armchair, wall unit, mirror and accessories
DI: Can you describe a day in your life?
SK : Coffee, construction site, coffee, supply shops, coffee, customer meeting, coffee, construction site, coffee, rest
DI: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
SK : Curiosity, research, following technology, customer analysis and construction site experience
DI: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
SK : The positive side is to leave a mark on the lives, the negative side is heavy responsibility.
DI: What is your "golden rule" in design?
SK : Originality
DI: What skills are most important for a designer?
SK : Organizational ability and three-dimensional thinking and drawing
DI: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
SK : Hand drawings, computer drawings and material samples
DI: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
SK : With daily and weekly planning
DI: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
SK : Process varies according to design
DI: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
SK : How do you not mix up the details of ongoing projects at the same time?
DI: What was your most important job experience?
SK : To undertake the concept and details of the farmhouse project, which is self-sufficient in energy and production, on a 21-decare land, where housing and various structures are located in an artificial lake, agricultural and animal areas are determined.
DI: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
SK : Projects of clients who trust and surrender to me
DI: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
SK : Every new project is better than the previous one
DI: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
SK : I design it myself and implement it with a large team.
DI: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
SK : There are 3 ongoing projects
DI: How can people contact you?
SK : via phone, email and Instagram