Çağlar Şahin
Ekrem Çağlar Şahin is an industrial designer with over 30 years of experience across every stage of the product development process. A 1995 graduate of the Industrial Product Design department at METU, Şahin has been a founding partner at Harduyu Design Consultancy since 1997 and a lecturer in the Industrial Design department at TOBB ETÜ since 2013. He maintains a cross-sector design practice spanning a wide project portfolio from defense industry applications to electric vehicle prototypes, and from energy infrastructure to office furniture.
Simple, Functional, and Colorful: Opto
The Opto Pouf design was born from the simple idea: “Wait comfortably.” The first prototype, designed with clean and comfortable lines, brought to life the novel concept of a pouf with an integrated tabletop. The design aimed for simple manufacturing, material efficiency, and easy diversification. Its colorful appearance and functionality have made it a preferred solution for users for many years.
My Design Approach
I see the design process as a journey that begins with the birth of an idea and ends the moment a product meets its user. Along the way, I aim to strike a balance between aesthetics and functionality while making the most of each material’s inherent potential. I approach every new project as an opportunity to produce meaningful, lasting solutions that add genuine value to people’s lives.
