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Interview with Baran Akalin |
Home > Designer Interviews > Baran Akalin |
Editor Frank Scott (FS) from DesignPRWire has interviewed designer Baran Akalin (BA) for A’ Design Award and Competition. You can access the full profile of Baran Akalin by clicking here.
FS: 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
FS: 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).
FS: 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
FS: 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
FS: 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
FS: 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
FS: 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
FS: 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
FS: 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
FS: 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
FS: 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
FS: 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
FS: 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.
FS: 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.
FS: 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.
FS: 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.
FS: 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.
FS: 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.
FS: How do you work with companies?
BA: J. B. ; Try to avoid
FS: 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.
FS: 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.
FS: 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.
FS: 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
FS: 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.
FS: 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.
FS: 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.
FS: What skills are most important for a designer?
BA: B.A. ; The most important one is ' Vision ' , others will follow. J.B. ; Knowledge
FS: 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.
FS: 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.
FS: 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.
FS: 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.
FS: 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.
FS: Who are some of your clients?
BA: Shipyards , boat brands and business man/Clients.
FS: 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
FS: 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.
FS: 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.
FS: 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.
FS: 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
FS: 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
FS: Thank you for providing us with this opportunity to interview you.
A’ Design Award and Competitions grants rights to press members and bloggers to use parts of this interview. This interview is provided as it is; DesignPRWire and A' Design Award and Competitions cannot be held responsible for the answers given by participating designers.
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