How Feature

How Design

I am humbled and honored to be rated among the Top 5 design firms from around the world by HOW Design. My work featured with 4 other international studios and below is an extract about my studio from the article. Don’t forget to read the whole article here!

Salih Kucukaga Design Studio is a one-man design shop operated by Salih Kucukaga in his hometown of Istanbul. Kucukaga’s design work, though, stretches around the globe, showing up in a So-Cal coffee shop, Dripp, or in a local up-scale restaurant in Istanbul. Like his range of clients, his design work also integrates many international influences, which keep them looking fresh, no matter where you are.

Tell us about one of your favorite projects: The Dripp Coffee Bar hot cup packaging is my favorite piece of design work. The design was launched in the summer of 2012 with a new sleeveless cup featuring a ripple surface so customers wouldn’t require an extra sleeve when enjoying their coffees. It also provides greater exposure for the new Dripp logo. In a nutshell, we decided to create a brand pattern with fun iconography that complements the overarching brand theme wrapped around the cup. This approach has worked, and I’m ecstatic with all the positive feedback from customers and other designers since its launch.

What is your “mantra” or “motto” when it comes to design?: Let your work speak for itself.

How does your location influence your design work?: My approach to design is governed by the inspiration derived from my hometown of Istanbul in Turkey. The bustling city plays host to a blend of eastern and western cultures, providing international influences in my work. An example of such inspiration is evident in my recent Black Goat Coffee project. The design incorporates an amiable blend of eastern, Turkish culture with the western, American style.

What do you foresee for the future of design in your town or country?: The Internet has created a whole new paradigm for graphic designers. It has provided exposure to work one could not see before and recently it has facilitated a platform for the collaboration of ideas using social media. As a result, it is now possible for all designers to infuse their beautiful local styles with contemporary global design and illustration trends allowing us to witness fascinating concepts and approaches. In the years ahead, I am hoping to see more independent Turkish graphic designers collaborating and being inspired through online interaction as well as incorporating elements of the amazing historical art culture Turkey has to offer.