2024 CHANGE IS POWER - DESIGN IS CHANGE.

I discovered Marty Neumeier's books in 2016, a rather late discovery considering that I had been working in the design discipline for years and set out to build my personal brand 20 years ago.

Since I have been buying almost all the books of the authors I am interested in in recent years, I collected all the books of Neumeier that were in print and that I could get my hands on. That wasn’t enough, I started watching his videos. I remembered my daughter Kapris telling me, “You have become a real stoker…” I think I can be obsessive about books and authors. My obsession with collecting books by authors that interest me will eventually lead me to create a mini private library. I can feel it, it is exciting and refreshing.

Coming back to Neumeir; I would like to share that I find all of his books on brand, design and creativity very useful. His short and concise narrative is also very striking.

"Change is power. Design is change." The quote has been on my mind since I read it. When I look back at my 20-year design and branding adventure, I see once again how true this sentence is.

Especially in ISTANBUL, which is located on two continents; I realize how much the rapid CHANGES in life, design and production dynamics strengthen me and my brand.

DESIGN IS CHANGE. A new idea and product can change our lives and living habits.

We say and write these sentences easily, but how many of them can we put into practice in our lives?

I started asking myself these questions frequently; How do we perceive which design, especially in a city and culture that is stuck in limbo?

How do we communicate emotionally with the objects surrounding us?

How are our relationships with the objects we choose and buy and our living habits changing?

Are we aware of the power of objects?

My questions about design, objects and change increase day by day.

As the questions increase, I try to find the answers and take the time to write them down. In this way, my perspective on the designs I make and the new design projects I will do begins to change.

RE- DESIGN During the Covid period, the topic of re-design was on my table. What would I re-design, my life, the objects I design and produce... What? During the Covid period, on one of the days when my Istanbul Store was closed, I came early and wrote REDESIGN on the shop shutter.

This redesign issue has been going on inside me for the last 3 years. Questions about the city I live in, the work I do and the brand I created have increased more and more. I went back to the years I founded my design company 20 years ago. I was the designer and producer during the years I created the ÖZLEM TUNA brand. Over time, as my brand grew and the work increased, I took on the hat of the person who managed the design company and the brand. I took on the task of designing, managing, marketing and selling many jobs all at once.

After 20 years, I realized that I wanted to be a maker again and return to the kitchen.

I want to produce the object I design myself. Since my childhood, the kitchen has been my special interest. I can live day and night in the kitchen of any kind of production.

I will produce porcelain, silver, gold and new materials that interest me.

I will be sharing my new designs and changes in my workshop with you throughout 2024.

I wish you and your loved ones pleasant days where you will be open to change, empathize, and embrace life and the cultures we live in.

December 25, 2023

Tomtom, Istanbul