Architecture, Design, and Experience: The Expertise of Selen Imamoglu
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- January 24, 2022
“The mother art is architecture. Without an architecture of our own, we have no soul of our own
civilization.” – Frank Lloyd Wright
Architecture is the design of spaces and ambiances. Architecture influences us with designs in space and light achieved in the abstract.
“Design is intelligence made visible.” — Alina Wheeler, author
Design refers to the artistic process of bringing an idea to life. Color, shape, technology, and function are means of achieving that creative goal. Excellent design enriches people’s lives or has the potential to do so.
The only source of knowledge is experience. – Albert Einstein
Experience refers to conscious events and perceptions, or to the practical knowledge and familiarity that is produced by these conscious processes.
The above three are considered to be complex disciplines that aim to create an artistic harmony for the viewer. The above disciplines require a strong understanding of artistic concepts and techniques, the branding of the client, and the awareness and understanding of color and space.
Some examples of professional creatives who have embodied this include Renzo Piano, Santiago Calatrava, Maya Lin, and more. These designers have dedicated themselves to designing the look and feel of spaces and brands. Selen Imamoglu has followed in their footsteps and has carved a career for herself designing the look and feel of spaces for major brands, projects, and firms.
Selen combines her unique knowledge of art, color, and design with her real-life experience of working internationally both in the US and Turkey. Additionally, she infuses her Turkish artistic sensibilities in all of her work. For example, her knowledge of the applied or decorative arts rather than figurative work. Pottery, especially İznik pottery, jewelry, hardstone carvings, Turkish carpets, woven and embroidered silk textiles were all produced to extremely high standards, and carpets can be seen in her modern interpretation in her artwork. Utilizing the historical art concepts with her contemporary understanding of brands and spaces, Selen was responsible for creating the plans and designing high-traffic retail spaces for high-profile Turkish brands. She embraces the potential for classic art and concepts to bring something new to a contemporary setting.
Living and working in New York City has expanded Selen’s understanding of the contemporary and the modern. Her experience studying Experiential Design at one of the US’s top universities, allowed her to experience design in a different way. Her designs now reflect functionality and form in addition to aesthetically presenting themselves as an art exhibition. This complexity which is very present in Selen’s designs is why major brands seek to work with Selen.
Although New York is a mix of the old and the new, Selen has worked for some of New York’s most forward-thinking brands. Currently, Selen is an Experiential Designer at Coach. Coach is an American luxury design house specializing in handbags, luggage, accessories, and ready-to-wear. She is responsible for designing processes, services, events, omnichannel journeys, and environments with a focus placed on the quality of the user experience and culturally relevant solutions. She serves in a critical role in designing the look and feel, organization, and design of Coach’s retail experience. Her designs are welcoming to customers, guiding them through your store, inspiring them to interact with the brand, and—ultimately—encouraging them to buy. Her interactive retail experiences keep shoppers in Coach longer.
Ultimately, her designs for Coach provide opportunities to customers to create authentic moments to share their experiences in the store and to connect with the brand.
