The sound of the earth

Interview: Cansu Varol İzmirli

Casi Paped is an example of a hobby turned into a profession. Şebnem Celepoğlu Dindar founded and managed Think'n Talk, which has been providing solutions in the fields of product, strategy and marketing for many years, and created her own brand with the equipment she gained while managing Think'n Talk, and turned her favorite ceramic hobby into a business. This is how Casi Paped, the manufacturer of porcelain that multiplies the pleasure of coffee, was born.

Considering that it is a brand whose raw material is earth, how does Casi Paped relate to nature?

The hustle and bustle of city life takes us away from animals, from nature, from all living things. Sometimes we forget the color and smell of the soil we step on. Yet man has been in great need of the soil and animals that energize every drop of his soul since the day he came into existence. I don't know whether it was my love for the soil or my longing for nature, but I felt that I needed a branch of art to find myself, to remember nature, to get lost in the mud. Casi Paped was born four years ago. I created the name of the brand in memory of my dog Casi, my parrot Pap and my cat Edward, inspired by my dear friends who left their mark on my life. The Bebek neighborhood, which hosts many new design workshops in line with Istanbul's vibrant life dynamics and embraces nature and the sea at the same time, was the right address for Casi Paped Design Workshop.

How would you describe Casi Paped's design line?

Our design line consists of pieces based on minimal ornamentation and functional forms. Our basic motto is products that create awareness with natural raw materials, striking colors and bold shapes. Filled with a pure and harmonious spirit, refined with vibrant and diverse color tones, all the pieces of our collection tell stories from our unique and creative process. It transforms your living spaces into relaxing places with a modern feel. Its simple designs, which adapt to any place, any environment and bring happiness to the soul, do not leave you alone in practical, tasteful and beautiful table presentations in the pace of contemporary daily life. Can you tell us about the most special success you have achieved with Casi Paped so far and your goals for the future?

Establishing a design brand has been a dream of mine for a long time; the idea of working individually, being free and expressing myself through my designs, the idea of the products I design being used by different people, the idea of accompanying different spaces and stories has been my starting point. I care a lot that I have achieved this because I have realized my dream. I am also delighted by the interest of coffee lovers in our special designs for different types of coffee. Our filter coffee, espresso cups, Turkish coffee, cappuccino cups, lungo coffee cups increase the enjoyment of coffee. For me, the most special success is the comments and shares on our social media channels. That's when I feel that the real Casi Paped style has reached its follower, that I am a partner in his story and that makes me very happy. In the future, I dream of expanding our collections, making art collaborations and expanding the brand even further.

You adopt a pleasing color palette and a simple design language. What are your sources of inspiration for the collections?

The magical world of colors is our starting point as it is a great way to express ourselves and tell our story. Colors affect us in such a way that they can even change the taste we get from the food we eat or the coffee we drink. The soft tones of nature add both a simple and assertive air to the designs. For a natural, calm, ecological and leisurely lifestyle, we tend towards pastel tones. I am inspired by every visual field; sometimes an album cover, sometimes a movie poster or a campaign shot... Design is a field that grows and develops by feeding each other, so I find it important to research, travel, exchange ideas and be nourished. I follow global designers, artists, various platforms and galleries and always try to stay up to date... CANSU VAROL FROM İZMİRLİ