We, as the Designer Interviews ("DI") had the distinct pleasure and opportunity to interview award-winning, most creative and innovative Emel Balcı ("EB").
ML MIMARLIK is an interior design studio and architecture studio based in istanbul since 2010 Mostly luxury villa projects, boutique villa projects, residence projects, office projects and rarely restaurant coffe projects are designed And also, trendsetter of Touching design trend in turkiye since 2019 which means with small touches , incredible places can be designed without big issues Most of the projects designed by ML Mımarlık published in lots of press such as interior design magazines, newspapers, tv programmes
Emel Balcı Designs
We are pleased to share with you original and innovative design work by Emel Balcı.
Emel Balcı Design - Monochrome Luxury Villa
Designer Interview of Emel Balcı:
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?
EB : İ am an architect born for it. After high school i only choosed architecturefaculties for college exams İ do my job with passion
DI: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
EB : My company designs and builts luxury residental and office projects And i am one of the trendsetters of touching method in my country
DI: What is "design" for you?
EB : Passion , touching peoples lives , giving them their dream places is something so much appreciating
DI: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
EB : Residental projects which means peoples lives as a castle of them The most important places
DI: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
EB : All projects of mine are my favorite because all of the are custam made
DI: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
EB : Residental villa project, it was for a family with 2 children and approximetly 250 m2 dublex project
DI: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
EB : Natural materials such as glass, marble and wood But wood material is my favorite and indispensible
DI: When do you feel the most creative?
EB : When i am on my own and listening so much loudly music I dont talk with people while i am designing, whan i feel my self stuck i get my dog and go for a walk and reset my brain If i am stucked so much, i need to go a short trip out of my city By the way i meed fresh brain
DI: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
EB : Customer needs feats with my knowladge and taste Of course the id of the project is so much important too but first my customers needs
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
EB : Freedom Passion Love Excitement Sometimes stuck sometimes free
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
EB : Happiness and excitement İ dont know howmany project ı have finished but every single time i feel like its my first delivery and feel excited so much
DI: What makes a design successful?
EB : İt should be uniq and custom made İt should be functional and also chiq İt should be rarely find and also makes people smile whan people see
DI: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
EB : İ want to understand the the reason it designed I want to find the answer that if i feel good or bad , if i get excited whan its built
DI: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
EB : We have lots of reponsibiliteis to care of What you design should be entegrated with the enviroment
DI: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
EB : Technology ofcourse Sustanibility and protection of enviroment is so much important too
DI: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
EB : At my college , and i want to hold them all over the world
DI: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
EB : From my customers How they live, what they like everything about them And all that informationsfeat with my taste and knowladge
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?
EB : All of them are both functional and uniqe
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?
EB : İstanbul, Turkiye My country is so beautiful and everything in my country inspires me alot
DI: How do you work with companies?
EB : İn a proper plan and timing İ always make brain storm with the companies i work
DI: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
EB : References are so important İf the company understands what you need and wantand also if they are showing importance about timing hire them
DI: Can you talk a little about your design process?
EB : First a survey with my customers Secondly i have to be with my owm to design ang think deeply and then the techniqul details
DI: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
EB : Wall coverings, lighting elements, fabrics, materials, functionalty
DI: Can you describe a day in your life?
EB : İ start my day with my dog first and then 10 am i start my day with meetings , responding my emailsand then after lunch i start controlling my projects on sites
DI: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
EB : Love your job Launch for new technology, new materials And travel alot
DI: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
EB : Sometimes budgets makes problems for customers but on the other way evrtyhing is perfect
DI: What is your "golden rule" in design?
EB : To be uniqe , functional and chiq
DI: What skills are most important for a designer?
EB : They ahould be hardworking and curious about everything
DI: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
EB : My color palettes, my material catologes are always on my table
DI: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
EB : İ do my work in a very principal calender so i have no struggles
DI: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
EB : İt depends what it is
DI: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
EB : How can you design so much different areas at the same tine
DI: What was your most important job experience?
EB : İ am still learning and every project is a new experience
DI: Who are some of your clients?
EB : Mostly company owners, Professionals CEO , CEE
DI: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
EB : When i design the walls i am so excited
DI: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
EB : Continue doing my job all over the world
DI: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
EB : Sometimes as a team sometimes just me
DI: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
EB : I have lots of residental projects both designing and constructing all over Turkıye
DI: How can people contact you?
EB : By Email and whatsapp emel@m-l.com.tr 905332050073
DI: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?
EB : Do what you love