AUTOBAN
Design Team

Founded by Seyhan Özdemir and Sefer Ça?lar in 2003, Autoban is an Istabul-based multi-disciplinary studio working across architecture and interiors, product and experiential design, with a portfolio that demonstrates their unique design approach on both local and international scale. Their contemporary methods of making design an innate part of the space have not only redefined Istanbul’s cityscape, but also results in a portfolio that includes numerous projects in London, Madrid, Hong Kong, Moscow, China and Azerbaijan. Their product designs are showcased at major design exhibitions or appear as installations at art events worldwide such as LDF, ICFF, Salon Del Mobile, and Design Biennale Interieur Kortrijk. Autoban received many awards at the international level in different categories starting with 2005 Wallpaper* Best Young Designers Award. Other awards include 2014 Red Dot Award with Heydar Aliyev International Airport and 2012 Wallpaper* Design Award “Best Bed” amongst others.

ZEHRA UÇAR
Curatorial Advisor

Zehra Uçar established Mimarlar Tasarım with Han Tümertekin in 1987 after completing her architectural education in Istanbul Technical University. Uçar was also the Editor in Chief of Konuşmalar, an architectural magazine published by Mimarlar Tasarım. Between the years 1997-1998, she worked as Art Director for Koleksiyon Home & Office Furniture and from 2003 to 2009, she held a design studio at Yıldız Technical University. She writes and talks about architecture; her articles have been published by many design magazines in Turkey. She has also participated in international exhibitions curated by :mentalKLINIK. She established Zehra Uçar Architecture & Design in 2000. Her designs include residential, commercial, cultural, governmental and conservation/regeneration projects. She lives and works in Istanbul.

UMUT SÜDÜAK
Graphic Design

Umut Südüak is an Istanbul based graphic designer and academic. In 1998, he received his bachelor degree from the Graphic Design Department of Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, and in 2000 his masters degree in communication design from Central St Martins School of Art and Design. He now runs his freelance design practice in Istanbul and lectures at the Graphic Design Department of Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University. Throughout his career, he has received sevaral national and international awards, ran workshops, attended seminars and served at judging panels. Since 2012, he’s been the president of Turkish Graphic Designers Association (GMK).

R. PAUL MCMILLEN
Curatorial Advisor

Communication expert, curator and artist R. Paul McMillen is Founding Director of McMillen&Gencsu, a brand communication agency operating in Istanbul and London, specialising in design, culture & art and philanthropy. He has formerly founded and run advertising, media and film production companies in Istanbul, in partnership with CDP, Dentsu and Carat. He also is a curator of photography and design. His recent works in this field include the Imagine Istanbul exhibition at Bozar, Brussels in 2015. He has taught communication design at the Middle East Technical University in Ankara and Sabancı University in Istanbul. He has founded and directed Pamukbank Gallery, the first photography gallery in Istanbul. He is a founder and trustee of Istanbul Modern Art Museum and WWF Turkey.

KORAY MALHAN
Curatorial Advisor

After attending the Industrial Design Department at Mimar Sinan University, Koray Malhan completed his degree in furniture design at the Ravensbourne College of Design and Communication in London in 1995. Koray Malhan has been supervising the development of product and design projects at Koleksiyon as the Design and Brand Manager of the brand since 2002. Koray Malhan’s designs “Gala office chair” has been awarded by Good Design in 2012, Red Dot and Design Turkey; while “İkaros sofa” was awarded by Architect’s Newspaper and MetropolisLIKES. Koray Malhan has also been awarded by MetropolisLIKES this year for the second time with the partition wall design “Oblivion,” displayed at NeoCon 2016.