In the early days when she started designing carpets, her emotion and the carpet didn’t make peace. Selen Ülbağ even considered changing her department after winning this department. Later, she realized how she could express herself better while designing carpets. So much so that she compares the painter’s paints to my yarn and color palettes. We hear the rest of the story of Ülbağ, who entered the industry with the training she received in 2013.
First of all, can we get to know you?
I was born in Karadeniz Ereğli in 1989. After graduating from Fine Arts High School in 2007, I was accepted to Sakarya University Faculty of Fine Arts, Traditional Turkish Arts Carpet – Rug Department. Actually, while I wanted to progress in the field of Painting or Fashion Design, my path crossed with carpet. I couldn’t adapt very well in the beginning. I was dreaming of taking the exams again and pursuing my dream fields. But as I designed, I discovered the power to express myself in my field. This liberated me even more. After graduating in 2013, I participated in the Computer Aided Carpet Design Training program initiated by GAHİB. After completing this training, I started as a designer at Kartal Halı in 2013. I am currently working as a design manager at Yusuf Halı.
What does carpet mean to you?
Carpet is an artistic language that I enjoy designing. Like the paints and papers a painter buys to start a new painting. The threads and color palettes that will be used in carpet design also excite me.
What is your favorite thing to design?
In fact, everything attracts a designer’s attention. Or so it is for me. I always redesign something in my mind, in a place I go to, in an environment I am in, or in my home. That’s why I can say that I love designing everything because I constantly play with what I see in my imagination.
Who are the designers that influenced you the most, during university or now?
Design is a profession that requires strength. You need to constantly renew yourself. This requires resources around you that you can feed on. This may of course be an internet research, or it may be people with different styles. Carrie Bradshaw and Amedeo Modigliani are the artists that influence me. I try to learn something from everyone around me who has their own unique style. I will continue to do this.
What advice would you give to young designers who want to design carpets?
In my opinion, those who want to do this job should definitely receive basic design education through academic education. Because if you want to do something original in the design process, you must design in line with certain elements and principles. Secondly, one must be a sound researcher. Innovations in the field of design should be constantly followed. Because every innovation improves people’s own design power a little more. They should examine a lot of color studies, visit studies related to this field (exhibitions, fairs, etc.), and create their own collections by doing visual research.
Gaziantep is the heart of the carpet industry in the world. I believe that strong designers will take this even further. Whatever you want to do in the name of design, pursue it. Even if you cannot decide on the design, what is waiting to be designed chooses you.
