Here, we ask designers to take a selfie and give us an inside look at their life.
Age: 32
Occupation: Lighting and product designer.
Instagram: @feyzdesignstudio
Hometown: Istanbul.
Studio location: Soho, New York. I recently completed my first office/showroom. I’m so thrilled to have a space to call my own and to create and have clients and friends over.
Describe what you make: I design sculptural lighting, furniture, and home decor pieces inspired by my Turkish culture and heritage. I work with expert artisans to create complicated yet elegant pieces that pay attention to the smallest details with exceptional hand-crafted elements. I love playing with scale, color, and different materials to create a unique piece for my clients.
The most important thing you’ve designed to date: For the last four months, I’ve been working on my debut for Design Miami/ through Wexler Gallery. This has been my dream, and I’m so excited to launch the Sunset Drive Collection to the public.
For this collection, I wanted to create a play of light and shadow. I had this picture of driving during sunset, enjoying the cloud formations, when cars pass by and you see moments of the bright headlights of cars passing by. I wanted to create a collection of pendant lights that are meant to be experienced from different angles and distances.
Describe the problem your work solves: Growing up in Istanbul, I was surrounded by Ottoman, Byzantine, and European history and always appreciated the incredible craftwork created in small ateliers, sold in tiny shops as well as antique pieces found in the Grand Bazaar. But most of these crafts and traditions are slowly disappearing because there is no need or excitement for them. By using meerschaum, for example, I was able to take a special but antiquated craft and make a fun, contemporary new piece that our generation would want in their homes.
Describe the project you are working on now: Made of sunset-hued mirrored glass cylinders and Meerschaum, a solid clay mineral found mainly in Eskisehir, in central Turkey, Sunset Drive is a collection of pendants featuring a medley of shapes, forms, textures, and colors. The Meerschaum is excavated and hand-carved by artisans in Turkey and perforations are made through it to emit light. From afar, the whole piece seems solid, but upon closer examination, the intricate hand-carved floral and graphic patterns become visible with the glowing light shining through. The sandblasted glass globes emit a soft romantic light, giving an impression of the haze before nightfall.
A new or forthcoming project we should know about: I’m working on a tableware collection that includes linens, glassware, and accessories using unique Turkish craftsmanship and techniques, to launch next year.
What you absolutely must have in your studio: Photos of my son and husband, Turkish delights and chocolate to give to all my guests, and fresh flowers in my glass vases.
What you do when you’re not working: I am enjoying cuddling and playing with my 18-month-old son.
Sources of creative envy: Zaha Hadid is my source of inspiration for everything. She is a strong woman and innovator who created the most incredible paintings and architecture. Others include Kelly Wearstler with her use of color and eclectic taste and Coco Chanel for her confidence and determination.
The distraction you want to eliminate: Endlessly scrolling down Instagram is definitely my biggest distraction at the moment.
Concrete or marble? Marble.
High-rise or townhouse? Townhouse
Remember or forget? Remember every moment.
Aliens or ghosts? Neither really, but ghosts of family and my personal heroes.
Dark or light? Light always.
