We, as the Designer Interviews ("DI") had the distinct pleasure and opportunity to interview award-winning, most creative and innovative Güneş Duman Gürbüz ("GDG").
My name is Güneş. I was born in 1991. I have been interested in art since I was 5 years old. I have been in the art world since I was 14 years old. I graduated from Van Anatolian Fine Arts High School Painting Department. I studied at Anadolu University, Faculty of Fine Arts, Department of Interior Architecture in Eskişehir. After graduation, I worked as a freelancer and also worked in many companies. I am currently working on various global projects. Designing is both a job and the most beautiful form of therapy for me. Knowing that I will produce new things while drawing gives me excitement. I think I have a lot; most importantly, I have a profession that I dreamed of as a little child. I do not hesitate while doing my job because when I communicate with different people, I go one step further in my profession. At the end of the day, when I look back, I feel that I have achieved great things.
Güneş Duman Gürbüz Designs
We are pleased to share with you original and innovative design work by Güneş Duman Gürbüz.
Güneş Duman Gürbüz Design - The Healer Waves Clinic Design
Designer Interview of Güneş Duman Gürbüz:
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?
GDG : When I was 5 years old, I was interested in drawing and at that time I discovered that I had a talent for drawing. Over time, I decided to study fine arts with the enthusiasm of being interested in art. My goal was to be a good designer. Since the first day I stepped into my design life, which has always been a part of my childhood dreams, I have always tried to make progress as a designer. I decided to progress on this path, including my high school and university life, in order to professionalise in this field. My biggest motivation that pushes me to become a designer is the structures, objects and their reflections in nature that I notice in my interaction area.
DI: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
GDG : In my design studio, I try to respond to the requests of every person who needs my design; however, the places I enjoy designing the most are commercial spaces. I have made many people happy with my designs so far and my aim is to increase this happiness on a global level.
DI: What is "design" for you?
GDG : For me, design is to communicate.
DI: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
GDG : In general, I like to design spaces where people come together and communicate.
DI: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
GDG : My favourite design is the healer waves, for which I received an award, because each current design is an improvement on the previous one. My favourite work is always my current design, because it is the harvest of all my work.
DI: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
GDG : The first thing I designed for a company was a waffle shop. It was the first time my design was applied. It reminded me that I had a job that showed me that I could touch people's lives.
DI: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
GDG : Digital art and design impress me a lot. The blending of visual effects with technology makes me feel that I live in another design universe.
DI: When do you feel the most creative?
GDG : When the sun shows its face to humanity, in the morning, I feel that my ideas are enlightened and I feel that I start the day more creatively.
DI: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
GDG : Comfort, ergonomics and applicability are most important to me. I also emphasise the importance of technology.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
GDG : Designing is the most unique talent in the world. While designing, there are times when I think that I can create something and give direction to something, and this is a very enjoyable and emotional situation at the same time.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
GDG : It is a different feeling to see, touch and feel the space I designed in front of me. Imagine, you dream it and no one sees it, you draw it but you can't touch it, and then you realise the space you designed and now everyone can see and touch the design that people don't see but you live in every sense. I think it is a marvellous feeling.
DI: What makes a design successful?
GDG : It is harmony with nature. A design blended with nature symbolises natural life.
DI: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
GDG : First of all, I look at the area and for whom the design is made and whether it can respond to the requirements in that area and whether it provides the necessary ergonomics and comfort. The concept is also important, as are the emotions that the design feels and the personality it transforms.
DI: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
GDG : The responsibility of a designer is to be able to communicate with the environment and to use this communication to bring nature and human beings together. At the same time, it is to respond to needs with functionality.
DI: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
GDG : Today, design tools are very diversified. Thanks to the programmes that are simple to use and accessible from everywhere, everyone is trying to design in some way. Recently, with the contribution of artificial intelligence, both new design areas have emerged and existing areas have developed further.
DI: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
GDG : It was at university in Eskisehir. As soon as possible.
DI: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
GDG : Designing for me is like dancing to music that suddenly plays while walking on the road. Everything in nature can be a source of inspiration for me. Sometimes it is an old window, sometimes an old building. Sometimes, some details in the space I am going to design that not everyone can see can be a source of inspiration for me. There are also many designers whose works I love and look up to. Their styles and perspectives on life always feed my soul.
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?
GDG : A minimalist approach as a design style always defines me. It is important to be simple and functional. I was first introduced to this style by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe's principle: 'Less is more'. And for years, minimalism and functionality have been at the forefront of my designs.
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?
GDG : I live in Turkey, which has a cultural diversity from east to west. Of course, we see the effect of this cultural heritage in Anatolia, where various civilisations have lived, on our designs. Especially the magnificent architecture transmitted to us by Turkish-Islamic art as well as various geometric forms and patterns direct many of our designs.
DI: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
GDG : As a designer, I think the designer's perspective on the world is important. I think the designer should communicate with a universal language. The person should be able to establish a relationship with his/her environment through his/her design. I think it is important to have a wide imagination and way of thinking. The most important thing is the ability to convey what he/she thinks.
DI: Can you talk a little about your design process?
GDG : When I start designing, I first go to the place I will design and make a discovery, examine all areas and listen to the place. I try to connect with the place. I imagine the design I will make and apply it to the areas in my imagination and draw it in my head. Then I prepare the necessary drafts related to the concept and transfer them to the drawing. Thus, the design process begins for me.
DI: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
GDG : In order of my favourite; chair, wooden sculpture, carpet, painting, pillow.
DI: Can you describe a day in your life?
GDG : First thing in the morning I greet the sun. I plan my day while having breakfast. Depending on my mood that day, I either work from home or go to the office and work in the office. At 10.36 a.m. I drink a Turkish coffee. I continue working with music. At the end of the day, after seeing the sun off, I study a foreign language, read a book, take care of myself and prepare for the next day.
DI: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
GDG : Being open-minded, free-spirited and dreamy will open many doors they dream of. In order to open these doors to the end, my advice to them is to devote themselves to the work they love and to have a consistent work discipline on this path.
DI: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
GDG : I honestly don't see a negative aspect of being a designer. Being a designer means being creative. This allows him/her to evaluate the good or bad things he/she encounters not only in terms of work but also in every stage of his/her life with his/her creativity and turn them into opportunities.
DI: What is your "golden rule" in design?
GDG : Functionality is a must for me. Even if you don't define a trinket as functional, it actually has the functionality of completing that design.
DI: What skills are most important for a designer?
GDG : Being open-minded, free-spirited and dreamy are the features that make a designer a designer.
DI: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
GDG : Firstly, I made sketches with hand drawings on the concept, and then I finalised the design through a computer programme.
DI: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
GDG : I divide a job into parts, and after dividing it into parts, I give each of them a certain timing and try to meet these timings.
DI: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
GDG : A specific time cannot be given here, because a time is specified by considering the type, location and functionality of the object to be designed. The main aim in design is not to produce a work in a certain time by restricting oneself, but to create a phenomenon that can communicate with people.
DI: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
GDG : As an interior designer, the most common question I face is what kind of space I live in.
DI: What was your most important job experience?
GDG : My first clinical design and practice is my most important experience; because I learnt many things about clinical design here.
DI: Who are some of your clients?
GDG : Dentists, business owners and furniture makers
DI: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
GDG : In general, stage design, dental clinics and libraries are my favourite places to design. Being in the same environment with music while designing the stage makes me happy. Libraries, with their quiet and soft air, give me the warmth I feel on the first day of school and remind me of a peaceful coffee hour.
DI: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
GDG : I want to be a leading designer worldwide and an exemplary person with my teachings. Now I want to participate in competitions and increase the number of awards.
DI: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
GDG : I am developing it myself.
DI: How can people contact you?
GDG : They can contact me by social media and e-mail. Also I have Behance and Linked-in Accounts.