Ali Bakova

Turkish industrial designer Ali Bakova works from a studio in the large industrial zone of Istanbul’s business district, Maslak, where creative offices and auto repair shops – designers and industry – live side-by-side. In 2015, Bakova, who is also one of the city’s most respected design educators, co-curated an exhibition entitled Atölye Maslak Maker Culture during which the small-scale production of artistic and artisanal objects was conducted on-site, using 3D printers. Bakova’s work can be playful – he may fashion a cat from Iznik tiles or a wooden chair taking its cues from the iconic Galata Bridge – but it also focuses on purity, what is essential and smart functionality.