Defne Samman does whatever she feels the closest and most sincere to her. That is, she is a designer and producer. She is a questioning, curious and emotional ceramic designer. She studied ceramic and glass at school. Samman says “My parents’ major was graphic design. So, design has always been around me. I have always enjoyed their conversions and works. I did not think much that I could work on something else. I designed commercial films’ decors and sets for 8 years; and now I paint, and make ceramic in my own atelier. My designs reflect my method of expressing myself, my feelings, and how I perceive time. I can also call it a bridge that carries ‘the zeitgeist’ between past and future. I use porcelain and black and brown stoneware clay in my designs. Each product of mine takes shape in my hands. I shape clay to a certain point and then leave it and wait so that it could find its own form. There is cooperation between me and the material. Especially with the porcelain forms, the process is so exciting. I enjoy this whole process and the material that makes me enjoy it is clay. I have limitless respect for the materials I use.” She thinks that a designer has no limits as long as he/she is set free. “A successful design needs a good idea, uniqueness, functionality and continuity. It is important that it reflects the soul and personality of designer. The function, aesthetics and emotional power of a design should be balanced. In my opinion, all of them should balance each other. A design product should have a timeless soul and add value to design. It is impossible to say that design trends do not exist but what shape me and my designs are definitely not trends. Local identities should not disappear with globalization. Cultural differences and diversity nurture us all. Nowadays I’m working on new porcelain forms, usable desktop products and objects. Aside from them, I’m doing research on different materials for different projects. Mirror is one of them. My latest design is my necklace that I made with silver and natural materials. It is not easy at all to say “I’m a designer” because it needs a long process. If I can be a good designer someday, I would like to design a product that could become a classic. While making something that completely comes out from me, I like meeting up with people who share the same perspective with me on a common ground thanks to what I do and the fact that they want to include my designs in their lives” says the designer. She expresses her life philosophy saying “Do what you love to do and do it often!”
