Yağmur:

Hello! I am from Istanbul and I’m studying Industrial Design at METU. Since I enjoy exploring and finding fun from everyday items, one of my passions is toy design. Seeing a child excited about a toy I created is an amazing feeling that motivates me to design more.

I do enjoy collecting postcards, mostly when I travel but I also do not hesitate to ask for a postcard if one of my loved ones is going to be out of the city. (And a handwritten note is highly appreciated).

I like to spend my time urban sketching with watercolors and reading crime fiction. I also tend to listen to podcasts and watch soap operas while I sketch. It is an addiction! Lastly, I may say I play video games but I usually enjoy it if I play with my friends since it is more fun that way. I have two pet birds who are currently in Istanbul, now I stay in METU dormitories with my roommate and my plants.

• mail: yagmurecearslan@gmail.com
• instagram: yagmur.rsln

Başak:

Hi! I’m a third-year Industrial Design student in Middle East Technical University from İzmir, Turkey. Being a product designer is my dream job and I’m fascinated by different cultures and people, so I’m very excited to be a part of this project :). I enjoy going to the theatre and watching plays and musicals, going to concerts, playing video games, and creating colorful make-up looks. I’m also studying Japanese, so 日本語を話せる人と練習したいんだよ。 Currently, my favorite TV shows are GenV, What We Do in the Shadows, Inside No. 9, and Community (5th rewatch). I unwind and also express my love to loved ones by making and gifting handmade crafts, and baking desserts – however much I can while living in a dorm. Nice to meet you!

• instagram: @basak_akkurt, @my_journey_in_design
• e-mail: basakakkurt00@gmail.com

Aras:

Hey! I’m Aras, 21 year old designer candidate, a 3rd grader, from METU. I was born in Istanbul, the cultural center and exhausting metropolis of Turkey. I spent most of my childhood and adolescence in my room creating stuff to express the stuff I was dealing with. Other than that I was hanging around the town with friends, taking photographs, drinking while going through major decade-defining events in Turkey.

After that, I started a new chapter in Ankara, after the pandemic, starting my lessons in METU as a industrial designer student. I could say my life has been more peaceful and organized after I got used to moving with my friends’ apartment in Ankara, in February. Recently, I visited Tbilisi, Georgia by myself for as a personal treat and tasted delicious wine, met new people and saw beautiful artworks. And hopefully, next spring I’ll be studying in Deusto University (Bilbao, Spain) thanks to my Erasmus program also planning to visit a lot more cities like Barcelona, Madrid, Milano, Rome etc.

Careerwise, I’m currently working as a part-time UX/UI – Graphic designer at a fintech company. I’m planning to lean more on UX/UI designer after I graduate and my personal design projects also. Passionwise, I write songs, make music on the piano and guitar, create multi-media drawings/artworks, photograph and do heavylifting. You can find my works on linktree.com/areslunaire btw.

In my free time, I play video games (mostly Genshin Impact and God of War) and watch sitcoms/romcoms. Also listening to music while romanticizing everything counts as a hobby for me idc. I’m currently obsessed listening to PinkPanteress – Mosquito, Caroline Polachek – Dang, Troye Sivan – One of Your Girls and Olivia Rodrigo – logical. (If you know at least one of them, hit me up so we can talk how good they are!!!)

Here are some photos of me and my work, my socials, my mail and don’t hesitate to write to me at any time at all!

• my instagram: @areslunaire
• mail: aras16bayraktar@gmail.com