Erdem Akan

Erdem Akan is a multidisciplinary designer whose career spans more than 25 years, bridging industrial production, artistic creation, curatorial work, and design education. He has held leadership roles in major international companies, shaping design strategies and leading creative teams, while also establishing his own independent studios and ventures. His work is rooted in the exploration of contrasts—between function and emotion, tradition and modernity, East and West—reflecting the complex cultural fabric of his hometown, Istanbul. Beyond his professional practice, he is also an educator and mentor, sharing his experience and philosophy with the next generation of designers through lectures and academic collaborations. Through all his projects, Erdem seeks to create meaningful connections between disciplines, ideas, and people, redefining what design can be in today’s world.