Agnes Runner Ivory and Blue Contemporary Handwoven Wool Rug

In 2014, Begüm Cana Özgür established her studio based in Istanbul where the cultural richness of the land has been the major motive in her work. With a background in interior design and product design, she focuses on the crafts culture and develops a contemporary approach to the traditional practice of weaving in Turkey. Through our explorations on color, texture and pattern we are seeking ways to create evocative products that would create a life long engagement with its unique handmade quality. Our journey is enriched through the dialog we form with the women weavers of Anatolia who take role in the production process from their homes. This inclusive design process calls the power of design in social transformation; drives us to take a responsible position through our design practice. "For me, the key function of design is to be deeply inter-woven in the lives of people. As designers we should understand that our creations are just props in their bigger stories. I am less interested in objects as functional items but more interested as companions and catalysts in the life experiences. To me, the question is, “How can objects of the built environment become a part of our inner lives and what qualities in them lend deeper relationship with the users?"