The story of the SUSTAIN bowl
A form that will create an alternative to the bowls we use daily; a leaf bowl that I named SUSTAIN.
In 2018, we started a project called #DESIGNKITCHEN with my food designer and researcher friend Sibel Kutlusoy. Let the designer and chef experience the change of place. We had built it on the interdisciplinary work of two people working in the porcelain production workshop and restaurant kitchen. Chef Aylin Yazıcıoğlu and I went back and forth between the kitchen and the ceramic workshop for a few weeks. First of all, we did weekly work by opening our workshop and kitchen to each other and guiding each other. Sibel Kutlusoy was our project consultant. Projects that start with excitement may sometimes not be finalised. In the busyness of life and work, it can be difficult to allocate the necessary time. Even though it was a short-term work, I observed that it enabled me to look at the objects I designed differently.
In the same period, a two day symposium on OLIVE OIL was organised in Nicole Restaurant, where Aylin Yazıcıoğlu was the chef. In this symposium on olive and olive oil production; as a designer, had designed an OLIVE OIL tasting experience table. I designed the leaf-shaped bowl for this experience area and produced a few prototypes.
When I started to design a new collection the following year, the olive leaf evolved into a SAGE leaf in the journey of transforming this LEAF form into an object for home use.
The inspiration for the porcelain bowl I named SUSTAIN was the Olive leaf. Why did I transform the olive leaf into a sage leaf? I think because I love to use sage leaves in the kitchen and in cooking. I love the smell. I add fresh or dried leaves to many dishes. I also like to make drink with sage hot or cold.
With this form and the matt glaze I created, it started to look more like a SAGE LEAF.
SAGE collection was enriched with alternative objects for our coffee, tea and food presentations. The speciality of the matt glaze I used and its differentiation in each product attracted a lot of attention. The pieces we produced using moulds turned into one of a kind object with the glaze used.
And SUSTAIN became an eye catching serving plate/object and became the favourite of this collection. I would like to share that it sold more than I expected. That is to say, a piece of nature or an unexpected form attracted our attention in our food and beverage table. It was much preferred as a unique gift. And SMAT cafe, Design District in Dubai started to serve sushi in SUSTAIN bowls.
As I use my designs in my home, they can also evolve over time. SUTAIN is also on a journey of change and transformation as I frequently use it on my desk, in the kitchen and in the living room.