My design adventure started in 1980. I am a graduate of METU with my Master's degree in architecture and PhD in city regional planning. I founded DESIGNNOBIS Design / Innovation firm in 2006. Designnobis provides industrial design services for firms both in national and global industries creating sustainable growth. As a sustainable innovation firm we provide support through strategic design, new product development and process efficiency. Designnobis is selected among Turkey's 40 pioneer venture companies. In 1991, Japanese Industrial Design Association deemed me worthy of the ‘Pioneer of Design’ award. I have contributed to several national and international organizations as a speaker on innovation, creative thinking, design and R&D, including TEDx, Intel, Coca Cola, IBM and World Bank. My book “Innovation” reflects on my experience as a INNOVATOR and DESIGNER! I still mentor, inspire and teach students at METU.
What were the biggest initial hurdles to building your business and how did you overcome them?
Production should increase in today’s world. My biggest initial hurdle is developing production codes. Producing is a culture, it is necessary to aim to produce perfection. But we are moving away from producing. Instead we have adopted a consumption culture.
Did you ever deal with contention from your family and friends concerning your entrepreneurial pursuits? How did you handle it? What would you do differently in hindsight?
I had or have no contention from my family, instead they have always supported me.
What would you say was the single most influential factor in your business success?
In my opinion; success means working hard, questioning life while observing, producing and sharing knowledge. I think rapid change and developing scientifically or technologically have the chance to catch up combining business strength.
What advice would you give to an upcoming entrepreneur locally and internationally?
I think the problem is how to eliminate the vital problem that new generation are encountering. Overcoming the upcoming national inertia of being a society that can produce information and technology more efficiently. Rather than consuming technology.
- Be motivated and be motivated to work with an energy that is unending and self-destructive.
- Do not stick to external resources.
- Your confidence for the future and in yourself is completely up to you. You must have faith in the work you do.
- Develop your organizational skills, think big.
- As long as you can not tell what you have done or can not transfer it, it is very difficult to get results, so strengthen your communication skills,
- Today, success in group work can be achieved, so adopt a team player attitude.
