We had the distinct pleasure to interview award winning designer Tugce Sonmez Evin about their original and creative Multifunctional Pouf design work. Tugce Sonmez Evin is an award-winning industrial designer, that makes our world a better place with their original multifunctional pouf works.
Tugce Sonmez Evin ("TSE") answered Design Interview ("DI") questions about their award-winning work Berliner Multifunctional Pouf. Interview questions prepared by Frank Scott.
TSE : The inspiration behind Berliner was to create a piece of furniture that gives back some of the space it holds. For this purpose, I designed Berliner with a smart storage space in its body.
TSE : The first objective was to design a comfortable seating unit as it's the main function of a pouf. The second objective was to create extra joy with its cotton-like look and playful yet distinguished solution for storage in open spaces.
TSE : I am hoping to have Berliner produced by a well-established furniture brand. I think the minimalist design of Berliner is timeless and could be an object of desire with the right approach.
TSE : Conceptualization of the design took 3 to 4 months roughly. Many mini-scale prototypes are made in this period, and 2 months of full-scale prototype production after the concept is finalized.
TSE : It was an in-house design project following an inspiration that I had. It started as a small container and evolved into a seating unit that can store everyday items.
TSE : I plan to sell or lease the production rights to a brand that I feel confident will value Berliner as I do. I own a Design Studio where I produce and sell my home decor and lighting products, but for furniture, I prefer working with a furniture brand, to be able to provide the best quality to the users.
TSE : As modern society evolves, the concept of living spaces has changed. We no longer live in huge houses but rather in smaller spaces that require smart solutions. I wanted to design a furniture that can be multifunctional but does not sacrifice the looks for this matter.
TSE : Designs of the mid-century modern style have influenced the material selection for this work. The form of Berliner can be obtained with a variety of different materials, but I thought the mixed materials of the mid-century modern style would perfectly match the simplistic and organic shape of the design.
TSE : Berliner is mainly designed for waiting lounges, office spaces, hotels, and retail stores. It's a perfect seating unit to store and display magazines, books, or any item that is usually left around in a waiting area. Then its use is expanded to houses by achieving the weight limitation to under 50kg.
TSE : Berliner takes the same space that a similar round pouf would take but creates additional space within the design.
TSE : Berliner takes its name from a famous German pastry that it resembles. Because of its white cotton-like upholstery, the similarity in looks was undeniable, so I decided to put a little smile on the faces of its users by naming it Berliner.
TSE : I used computer modeling and 3D printing when working with the proportions. It helped me precisely plan the seating angles and curvature of the inner part for storage.
TSE : Storage within sofas, ottomans, or coffee tables is always explored when designing furniture. Berliner stands out by creating a storage space by not adding elements but subtracting unnecessary fillings by carefully planning the sitting structure and making the storage accessible at any time, not closed by any lids.
TSE : I have worked with a very talented craftsman to produce the prototype of Berliner, a woodworker who carved the body of Berliner by hand on a large turning lathe.
TSE : The inner frame of the pouf is carved in CNC by calculating the approximate weight so that the product can stay within the weight limits of reasonable household use.
TSE : The main challenge was to create a firm seating unit while controlling its weight. It's carved from laminated wood blocks so it could be heavy. I decided to use the Ayous tree for Berliner because of its lightweight and sturdiness and make a hollow inner frame to eliminate any unnecessary weight.
TSE : Berliner was first exhibited in an international design exhibition, Salone Satellite in Salone del Mobile Milano 2022. It received quite positive feedback from many visitors so I wanted to apply to A'Design Award & Competition to see how it would perform. And I am deeply grateful that I did.
TSE : It was my first furniture design that is actualized, so I learnt a lot about ergonomics in furniture when designing Berliner.
