We, as the Designer Interviews ("DI") had the distinct pleasure and opportunity to interview award-winning, most creative and innovative Akin Budakoglu ("AB").
I work for an urban furniture design company Budero as a product developer. Budero's design approach always demands more from its staff. Even if we are making a product that is very simple and often made by different people, we think about what extra value we can add to it. In doing so, we constantly simplify operations. In-office communication, communication with customers, business perspective, etc. We believe it should be lean. Because we believe that a correct design is achieved by simplifying, not adding.
Akin Budakoglu Designs
We are pleased to share with you original and innovative design work by Akin Budakoglu.
Akin Budakoglu Design - Risefit Outdoor Fitness
Designer Interview of Akin Budakoglu:
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?
AB : It is gratifying to develop something and create value. I guess it means I'm lucky to do this job without making a conscious choice.
DI: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
AB : I have been doing this job professionally for 15 years, my company is only 4 years old. We are trying to find solutions to problems in terms of facilitating community and city life.
DI: What is "design" for you?
AB : Anything that solves any problem.
DI: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
AB : As we are experts in urban equipment and urban furniture, we usually do not go out of here much.
DI: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
AB : We love any project that satisfies. For satisfaction, I can say that the team is in shape, good chemistry and energy.
DI: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
AB : Let's think for Budero, the company I left was my first client. We designed a playground for them.
DI: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
AB : I love to use simple techniques and materials in different ways. For example, facade cladding used in architectural works can be beautiful shells for playgroups.
DI: When do you feel the most creative?
AB : When I'm not very busy and I'm usually alone.
DI: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
AB : Manufacturability, visual integrity, anticipation of vandalism, user experience and benefits.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
AB : I usually work with classical or organic music, during work I am motivated by thinking that there is a film or documentary filming about the story of the project in front of me.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
AB : This is a very welcome development. What is more pleasing is that they are mass-produced and preferred by people from different geographies.
DI: What makes a design successful?
AB : The number or size of problems it solves.
DI: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
AB : I think the criteria of utility, ergonomics and structural integrity it produces are sufficient.
DI: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
AB : I think it touches the lives of people and other living things and makes their lives easier.
DI: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
AB : I guess artificial intelligence will decide that.
DI: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
AB : Since I'm on the industrial and production side of design, I haven't had an initiative related to the exhibition yet.
DI: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
AB : This is a good question. I can say that 90% of the job is to trigger creativity and the rest is to reveal the design.
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?
AB : I absolutely love the simple, but I can't make such simple designs yet. I will learn :)
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?
AB : I was born and live in Türkiye. I think that Turks are talented in professions that require creativity and practicality. Central and Northern Europe as a design language has always interested me, this approach generally affects me. But I have made many hidden details or proportions about Turkey in my designs.
DI: How do you work with companies?
AB : Companies usually get design services from us, we also give them the registration of original designs along with their projects. Recently, some companies are also asking for design consultancy, I think I need to develop a new business model.
DI: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
AB : The designer should analyze and know the company very well. The company, on the other hand, should give the steering wheel to the designer, and should be able to think about good or bad design for its customer, not according to its own manners.
DI: Can you talk a little about your design process?
AB : We handle each project in three phases, and we come to the conclusion as a concept design, product development and application project.
DI: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
AB : Simple kitchenware, minimal furniture and my cat Percy.
DI: Can you describe a day in your life?
AB : I usually relax at the office, when I am at home and with my family, the day is tiring. For this reason, I may have a different routine than a normal person.
DI: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
AB : I think a good designer should specialize. For this reason, I can recommend them to explore the sector or discipline they can specialize in before it is too late.
DI: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
AB : Touching people's lives and making their lives easier are happy things. Occupational diseases (symmetry, order, etc.) can be negative things.
DI: What is your "golden rule" in design?
AB : Respect the work and do your best.
DI: What skills are most important for a designer?
AB : Geometry, using different perspectives, imagination
DI: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
AB : Tablet for sketches, cad programs and hardware, color chart (about which I can accept gifts)
DI: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
AB : It is definitely important to start with a plan, otherwise it may take time to get to the last part.
DI: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
AB : A question about how much we can think before starting the project will take a long time if the right analysis is not done.
DI: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
AB : How much does it cost? (Unfortunately)
DI: What was your most important job experience?
AB : It was exciting to design the playground inside a 250-year-old restored structure in Istanbul in late 2022.
DI: Who are some of your clients?
AB : A few urban furniture manufacturers in Turkey, Germany, Oman and Australia, a few municipalities in Turkey and restoration, architectural firms
DI: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
AB : Since our area of expertise is urban equipment and urban furniture, we usually take care to stay in this area.
DI: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
AB : Smart cities..
DI: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
AB : It's definitely better to work as a team, but I do the planning and business development alone.
DI: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
AB : It may not be right for me to share this :)
DI: How can people contact you?
AB : www.budero.city or www.budero.com.tr
DI: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?
AB : This and similar platforms are definitely necessary things about the development and encouragement of the profession.