Interview with Mehmet Emin Gülşen

I am motivated by the potential to blend functionality and aesthetics in a way that enhances user experience and solves real-world problems. My background in computer science and app development naturally led me to design, as I sought to create intuitive and visually appealing interfaces.

was initially forced into the field due to circumstances, but over time, I developed a strong passion for design. The challenges and creative aspects of designing user interfaces and experiences captivated me, turning it into a chosen career path that I now deeply enjoy.

I am particularly interested in designing augmented reality experiences that push the boundaries of interactive design. My focus is on creating innovative and immersive applications that enhance user engagement and offer unique, memorable experiences.

Young designers should focus on creating an experimental environment like a playground, where they can continuously learn and innovate.

A great designer knows where to adopt reality and where to challenge it, pushing the boundaries of innovation while remaining practical.

In my opinion, a really good design seamlessly integrates into our lives, becoming almost invisible due to its intuitive and effortless usability. It enhances our daily experiences without us even noticing its presence, demonstrating both functional excellence and aesthetic harmony.

Good design is invaluable because it enhances usability, ensures functionality, and creates an emotional connection with users. Investing in good design leads to higher user satisfaction, increased engagement, and ultimately, a stronger brand reputation. It can set a product apart in a crowded market, ensuring it stands out and remains competitive.

If I had the time, I would design a real place merged with augmented reality. This project would create an interactive, immersive environment where physical spaces are enhanced with digital elements, providing unique experiences for visitors. This design would be tailored for public spaces, museums, or educational institutions to offer enriched and engaging experiences.

Progressive learning and creating a measurable playground for the experiments really helps to become better.

I draw inspiration from design legends like Dieter Rams for his principles of good design, and Jony Ive for his groundbreaking work at Apple. Their focus on simplicity, functionality, and aesthetics continues to influence my approach to design.

To become better designers, people should focus on continuous learning, seeking feedback, and experimenting with new ideas.

If I hadn’t become a designer, I would have likely pursued a career in software development or artificial intelligence, fields where I could still apply my passion for problem-solving and innovation.

For me, design is the process of creating solutions that are both functional and aesthetically pleasing. It is about understanding user needs and crafting experiences that enhance their interactions with products or services. Design is a blend of creativity, empathy, and technical skill.

My biggest supporter has been my family, who provided unwavering encouragement and support throughout my journey. Additionally, my mentors and colleagues in the design community have played a crucial role in guiding and inspiring me to reach new heights in my career.

Continuous learning, a willingness to experiment, and seeking feedback from peers and users have been crucial in helping me become a great designer. Additionally, maintaining a user-centric approach and staying updated with industry trends have significantly contributed to my growth.

Some of the obstacles I faced included keeping up with rapidly changing technology, balancing functionality with aesthetics, and overcoming initial failures and setbacks. Learning to accept constructive criticism and iterating on my designs based on feedback were also challenging but essential steps in my journey.

Designers should present their work with clear, concise explanations of their design choices and processes

People expect an esteemed designer to deliver innovative, functional, and aesthetically pleasing solutions. They also expect a deep understanding of user needs, a commitment to quality, and the ability to anticipate and adapt to emerging trends and technologies.

Design helps create a better society by improving accessibility, enhancing usability, and creating inclusive solutions that cater to diverse needs. Well-designed products and services can simplify tasks, increase efficiency, and contribute to overall well-being, making everyday life more enjoyable and productive.

One of the design projects that gave me the most satisfaction was creating 360-degree experiences. This project was particularly rewarding because it pushed the boundaries of immersive design and provided users with an entirely new way to interact with digital content.

The time to finalize a design project varies depending on its complexity and scope. Typically, it can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months. This includes initial research, prototyping, user testing, iterations, and final adjustments.

My life motto as a designer is "Design with empathy, innovate with purpose." I believe that understanding and addressing user needs is paramount, and every design should aim to make a meaningful impact.

I believe it’s a dynamic interplay between the two. While innovative design can set new trends by introducing fresh concepts and solutions, existing trends also influence design by shaping user expectations and industry standards.

Technology plays a crucial role in my design process. It enables the creation of more interactive, immersive, and efficient designs.

I use a variety of design software including Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, XD), Sketch, Figma, and InVision for prototyping. For 3D modeling and AR projects, I use tools like Blender and Unity. My equipment includes a high-performance computer, a graphics tablet for testing immersive experiences.

Color, materials, and ambient elements are fundamental in creating a cohesive and engaging design. Color sets the mood and guides user attention, materials add texture and depth, and ambient elements like lighting and sound enhance the overall user experience. Together, they contribute to the aesthetic and functional quality of the design.

I wish people would ask about the thought process and research behind my design decisions. Understanding the rationale and user insights that drive the design can provide a deeper appreciation of its functionality and aesthetics.

I consider how it addresses user needs, its functionality, and the potential impact it has on improving everyday experiences. Great designs inspire me to continue pushing the boundaries in my own work.

I strongly believe in co-design because collaboration fosters creativity, enables diverse perspectives, and often leads to more innovative solutions.

The people who have had the most influence on my design are my colleagues in the design community. Their feedback, guidance, and shared experiences have significantly shaped my approach and philosophy towards design.

I developed my skills through continuous learning, hands-on experience, and seeking feedback. Additionally, working on diverse projects allowed me to apply and refine my skills in different contexts.

I would love to meet and discuss with Leonardo da Vinci. His multidisciplinary approach to art, science, and engineering is incredibly inspiring, and I believe his insights on creativity and innovation would be invaluable.

Receiving awards and recognition is gratifying and validates the hard work and passion I put into my designs. However, I don't consider myself famous. I remain focused on continuous improvement and contributing positively to the design community.

What makes my day great as a designer is seeing the positive impact of my work on users. Hearing feedback from satisfied users and knowing that my designs have improved their experiences is incredibly motivating. I also stay motivated by setting personal goals and continually challenging myself to learn and innovate.

As a child, I was always curious and enjoyed creating things, whether it was drawing, building with blocks, or tinkering with gadgets. While it wasn't obvious that I would become a designer, these early interests in creativity and problem-solving set the foundation for my future career.

In a thousand years, I envision a future where technology and design are seamlessly integrated into every aspect of life, enhancing human capabilities and experiences. Advances in AI, biotechnology, and space exploration will likely transform our societies in ways we can hardly imagine today. Design will continue to play a critical role in shaping this future, ensuring that technology serves humanity effectively and ethically.

Founded in 2017, our digital agency specializes in designing and creating innovative mobile solutions, with a strong focus on the photo and video categories. Our applications are crafted to empower content creation and enhance digital marketing efforts, enabling users to produce high-quality, engaging content directly from their mobile devices.

Over the years, we have dedicated ourselves to understanding the evolving needs of content creators and marketers, which has allowed us to develop apps that are not only user-friendly but also equipped with advanced functionalities to meet the demands of modern digital landscapes. Our portfolio includes a variety of apps that cater to diverse creative needs—from amateur photographers looking to enhance their photos to professional marketers seeking efficient video editing tools.

Our approach combines aesthetic design with practical functionality, ensuring that each product we develop not only meets but exceeds the expectations of our users. By continuously integrating feedback and staying ahead of technological advancements, we strive to offer solutions that are relevant, reliable, and revolutionary in the field of digital content creation.

To me, design is the art of solving problems within constraints, a means through which functionality and beauty are harmoniously integrated to serve a purpose. It’s about understanding the user at a fundamental level and crafting solutions that not only address their needs but also enhance their interactions and experiences. Thus, design is not just about how things look, but how they work, how they feel, and how they are understood by users without explanation. It’s about creating products that are intuitive and inclusive, ensuring that anyone, regardless of their tech-savviness, can benefit from the digital tools we create. In essence, design is the voice of our products, speaking directly to the user in a language they can understand immediately.

I really enjoy working on problems that haven't been solved yet. I like finding issues that other people might not notice and coming up with new solutions for them. This kind of work is exciting because it lets us be creative and lead the way in making new kinds of mobile apps.

When we design for these new challenges, we get to learn a lot about what users need and what they might want in the future. It’s about thinking differently and trying to solve problems before they become big issues. This approach is what makes our work stand out and keeps us excited about what we do.

It feels great to create something new that makes things better or easier for people, especially when it’s something they didn’t even know they needed.

My favorite design is a camera app specifically made for taking photos at night. What makes this app stand out is how it combines advanced photography techniques with a user-friendly design. Night photography usually requires special skills and equipment, but our app simplifies this process, making it accessible to everyone.

We developed the app using computational photography techniques, which help enhance photos taken in low light conditions. This means that even if you're using just your smartphone, you can still capture stunning night-time shots that are clear, bright, and full of detail.

The interface of the app is designed to be intuitive, so users don't need to be experts to use it. They can easily adjust settings to suit their needs and get great results every time. This project is my favorite because it merges technical complexity with ease of use, opening up new possibilities for mobile photography at night.

The first thing I designed for a company was a real-estate showcase application. This app allows users to take 360-degree photos using just a standard mobile phone equipped with a fisheye lens, mounted on a rotating platform.

The idea was to make it easier and more affordable for real estate agents and homeowners to create virtual tours of properties. Before, taking 360-degree photos often required expensive equipment or professional photography services. Our app simplified this by enabling the phone to capture wide-angle images as it rotated, stitching these images together to form a seamless panoramic view.

This design was particularly challenging because it involved both hardware and software components—we had to figure out how to synchronize the phone’s movement with the photo capture and stitching process. But it was also rewarding to see how it transformed the way properties were presented online, making the process more accessible to our users.

Nowadays, I am exploring visual scripting tools and using visual scripting, I’ve been able to bridge the gap between design and functionality more effectively, crafting more interactive and responsive applications. It’s a powerful way to build and refine ideas, and it’s a technology that has profoundly impacted how I approach problem-solving in design.

I feel the most creative when I'm faced with a new challenge or when I'm brainstorming solutions for unique problems. These situations push me to think outside the box and explore ideas that I might not consider under normal circumstances.

When I design, I prioritize three key aspects: sustainability, maintainability, and ease of adoption.

When I design, I feel a mix of excitement and satisfaction. Designing is like solving a puzzle, and each challenge brings a new opportunity to create something meaningful. I'm excited by the possibilities of what can be created, and there’s a real thrill in figuring out how to make those ideas come to life.

When my designs are realized, I feel an incredible mix of joy, pride, and sometimes relief. Seeing a concept that started as just an idea in my mind become tangible is deeply rewarding. It's exciting to watch something I've worked on being used and appreciated by others.

A successful design often inspires. It should provoke thought, evoke emotions, or push boundaries, encouraging users or viewers to see things differently or consider new possibilities.

When judging a design as good or bad, I first consider its functionality, usability, aesthetics, sustainability, and level of innovation.

A designer’s responsibilities include creating solutions that are socially beneficial, environmentally sustainable, and ethically produced.

The design field is evolving towards greater integration of technology and sustainability, with a future that emphasizes user-centric, environmentally conscious solutions enhanced by digital innovations.