İlkin Taşdelen
brand · product · material
Open Designer / Berlin
MA – Open Design
@Humboldt University of Berlin – @University of Buenos Aires
BID – Industrial Design
@Middle East Technical University
As an interdisciplinary designer, I work at the intersection of brand, product, and material. They represent the ways in which people encounter, use, and form relationships with what we create. We don’t buy a product for its materials, or for its function, or for its story. We buy into the total experience. We touch it, use it, and believe in what it represents. That’s why I don’t separate them in my work. I build bridges between these layers to deliver products that mean something to the people who use them, that contribute to a greener future.
My Services
Brand Strategy
build clear, scalable brand systems that connect purpose with presence.
Product Design
design smart, modular products built for real-world impact.
Material Research
develop materials that enhance sustainability and performance.
Material is a feeling, performance, and impact on the environment
- From biomaterials (mycelium to wood and algae) to smart materials (carbonfiber, hydrogels and PCMs), I explore materials that matter to both people and the planet.
Product is a context that gives the material meaning
- Without design, a material is a raw potential. The product frames how people interact with it, how it works in their daily life, and how it fits their needs.
Brand is the layer of narratives
- Products and materials need stories to connect with people. Brand creates that connection by shaping perception, building trust, offering innovation or sustainability. Brands give people a story to care about.
This integrated approach defines my mindset and methodology. I anchor three different expertises that are already connected through broad understanding and collaborative capacity.
How my 11 years of practice looks like
Brand and Visual Communication
I’ve built identities for companies, tech startups and artworks; spans print, digital, and experiential touchpoints.
- Built and implemented identities for companies of all sizes. (heavy industries, tech startups, educational organizations, EU projects and art initiatives)
- Assembled and managed a five-person team (2017-2021), shaped identities and brand strategies for Birikim Engineering, BAS Industrial, Berkkam EU Patent, Akin Erturk College, Joule.io and +10 businesses.
Product & Industrial Design
From aviation to domestic appliances, I’ve designed physical products and user experiences, balancing form, function, and manufacturability.
- Developed and visualized urban railway accesibility solutions for German Aerospace Center.
- Collaborated with Albus Agency to develop “Corpus” management software for literary agencies, specifically tailored for AnatoliaLit Agency.
- Developed three efficient drone models for Alti Dynamics to minimize radar cross-section, to enhance stealth capabilities.
- Evaluated and enhanced intuitive and user-focused interfaces at Termikel Co. for built-in ovens, as well as modernizing Germany Catalog with 200+ products that contributes to the win of Interior Design Award 2013.
Material Innovation
I explore material futures through hands-on research with Biomaterials and Smart Materials for product applications.
- Researched “Mycelial Interactions in Urban Spaces” and at Matters of Activity collaboration with Max Planck Institute, featured at Humboldt Forum.
- Developed a responsive and robust pinecone biowall, “Home of Seeds”, featured at Humboldt Forum.
- Designed a bio-based filling material by developing a mycelium composite with carbon fiber and bamboo fiber.
- Published a thesis on “Material Activity of Drying Alginate Hydrogels” which received the top grade of 1.0, collaborating with Max Planck Institute.
I am interested in
- Design Strategy / Leadership in product or R&D-driven companies.
- Material-Innovation-Led Product Development.
- Brand and Product Systems Thinking roles.
- Interdisciplinary Collaboration / Facilitation Roles.