New Generation Mastery

Interview: Gülderen Tumba

We explored creative and young ateliers that reinterpret handcraftsmanship with the needs of the modern world and create a unique design language with a contemporary understanding of form.

"I am respectful and passionate about porcelain's thousands of years of tradition and production techniques. I prefer to add a modern interpretation with an experimental approach.

How did you meet ceramics?

I chose to develop my long years of experience in the field of advertising by focusing on a deep concept like "happiness" that overflows from advertising and seeps into life, thus bringing my productivity to the surface even more, and five years ago I brought it to the world of ceramics. I wanted to create a brand where I could deviate from what I know, from what I have memorized, where I could interpret the design in my own way; original, free, colorful and perhaps most importantly; I wanted to create a brand that does not contain perfection in its nature due to the surprises of craftsmanship. The idea of working individually, freely, expressing myself through my designs, accompanying different spaces and stories was my starting point. Today, I lead and accompany the creative design process with my team in our Casi Paped porcelain studio in Bebek, Istanbul.

Can you tell us about your designs?

We have a wide range of carefully designed products that will please those who can make tasteful choices with their intuition. As Casi Paped, we adopt a design approach that emphasizes forms and functionality while maintaining a stylish and modern aesthetic. The coffee group occupies a large place in the collection. With their comfortable grip, light weight and elegant surfaces, we offer a wide range of options from Turkish coffee cups, espresso cups, Lungo coffee cups to filter coffee cups. Presentation service products, vases, candlestick sets and decorative products are our other categories.

Can you tell us about your workshop process?

Casi Paped's collection colors created a new direction for me, I could only reach the colors I wanted in high fired porcelain. First the colors, then the quality and elegance of the fineness of porcelain made me turn from ceramics to porcelain. The element that constitutes quality is in the gene that is involved in the existence of porcelain. That gene has a history, a memory, a powerful and desirable story. Porcelain remembers the past, is resistant to time, and transfers its characteristics to the present with a clever and distinctive energy.

What is your source of inspiration?

I'm inspired by every visual medium, sometimes it's an album cover, sometimes a movie poster or a campaign shot. Travel is a field that feeds me a lot. Design grows and develops by feeding each other, so I find it very important to research, travel, exchange ideas and feed myself. We are aware that the secret of a good design lies in the ideal balance of aesthetics and functionality. Our collections, shaped by feelings of calmness, comfort, even childish excitement and playfulness that you can connect with yourself, change tone and attitude according to the trend colors of the season and easily adapt to the spaces. For example, this winter's collection features a cocoa powder shade. Cocoa powder, a brown dominated by brick tones that emphasize nostalgic feelings, glorifies simplicity and serenity while bringing to mind mushrooms, bushes and of course cocoa in nature. The products we make in this tone are also an elegant reference to the new generation of luxury.