Interview with Guner Donmez

I am freelance designer. I work as design director in Newarc company which produces sanitary ware.

Imagined idea transformed into a product.

I dont have preferance in any specific work. I enjoy solving problems not concentrating on object itself. so I design according to needs and problems.

My first design for a company is a tea set created in 1996.

My favorite material is porcelain.

I feel the most creative after midnight. Being alone and not disturapted helps to concentrate on new design.

For me the most important thing in design is functionality.

While designing I feel a strong excitement. Starting a new design is like a making first mark on an empty paper. At first I feel strong sence of curiosity.

The most exhited I feel during the process of designing. After design has been realized the only thing what is important for me is it usefull for people. I am more interested in starting a new project.

Paying attention to small details.

The most important point to consider is design trully fulfilling the function.

The responisbility of designer is to think about needs of society. Designer should not produce unecessary things.

Design is evolving according to processes happening in the world. And in opposite the world is changing because of design development. We also need to think about necessarity and use the world's resources responibly.

I have been influenced from Bahaus movement phillosophy.

My style is mostly minimalistic with emphasis on function.

I live in Istanbul. Istanbul is a historical place with multicultural society. Turkish traditional arts are very colorfull, ornamental and full of details. Atghough I have been born and gained my education in Turkey my style is opposite to that. For me the most important thing in design is simplicity and functionality without any visual distruption.

I work as a design adviser and designer.

Companies should trust a designer and give free creative space.

First I try to determine the problem, then there is a reasearch process. Trying to find the right technical solution through design.

Victorinox knife, Homend kettle, Casio-Protec Watch, Saneva Camping Tent

I have a very busy schedule. Every day is different. Because i work in different places. I give lectures in two differeny universites. An also I am a desing director in a company.

Working hard and having work ethics is what i advise to my students.

Designers work life is always changing, there is no place for routine, it makes it exiting and tiring in the same time.

Functionallity over everything.

The ability to tranform an abstrac idea to a physical form.

First impulse or idea I always mark with sketching in old fashion way, paper and pencil. Then the most work is done on computer using drawing programs.

Designing can take long hours. I prefer working in late hours, when I can not be distrupted.

It depends on product.

Where to get an inspiration?

VİTRA sanitary ware company.

Newarc, VİTRA, İDEVİT

My goal is to work indesign on international level.

I work independently.

www.gunerdonmez.com / gunerdonmez@gmail.com