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Constructing Heritage
MasterClass: Jane Withers
November 6, 2026, 17.00
Focusing on the concepts of design and culture, the seminar explores the meaning of design as part of cultural heritage and its contribution to the continuity of that heritage. Led by design entrepreneur Gaye Çevikel, the program considers design as a field of production informed by the past and as a means of connecting tangible and intangible cultural elements with contemporary life.
Drawing on traditional and contemporary production methods, stories, symbols, and ways of life, the seminar examines how cultural knowledge can be reinterpreted in response to the needs, technologies, and shifting social dynamics of contemporary life. Discussing how local references, narratives, and aesthetic values acquire new meanings within today’s design language and in an international context, the program considers design’s role in making cultural heritage visible and sustainable through the story of GAIA&GINO, a design brand originating in Türkiye.
About
Gaye Cevikel is an entrepreneur, design visionary, and founder of the international design brand GAIA&GINO, established in 2004. A key figure in the development of contemporary design culture in Türkiye, she founded Decorum in Istanbul in 1996, one of the country’s first platforms dedicated to contemporary design.
Through GAIA&GINO, Cevikel has collaborated with leading international designers including Karim Rashid, Arik Levy, Andrée Putman, Jaime Hayon, David Adjaye, Yves Béhar, Nendo, and Defne Koz. As Creative Director, she has overseen the brand’s creative direction and product development, with a particular focus on the relationship between contemporary design and craftsmanship.
Throughout her career, she has held roles in design strategy, creative consultancy, and creative direction for international brands including Swarovski Lighting, Atelier Swarovski Home, Verreum, and Nude. In 2009, Wallpaper and Courvoisier named her among 33 individuals expected to shape the 21st century through their creativity.
Cevikel holds undergraduate degrees in English Language and Literature and Political Science, as well as a master’s degree in International Relations. She continues her work between Istanbul and Lisbon.
WorkShop: Kerem Ariş & Merve Parnas
October 15–16, 2026, 13.00–15.00
In this WorkShop, participants consider design as part of cultural continuity. Drawing on the relationship with materials, traditional production knowledge, and the cultural accumulation carried across generations through contemporary aesthetic values, they explore how this heritage can acquire new meaning through the possibilities of contemporary design and the changing needs of everyday life.
Led by Kerem Ariş and Merve Parnas, the WorkShop draws on their experience of developing Uniqka, the design brand they founded, by reinterpreting traditional materials and production methods through a contemporary design language. Participants approach design as a multilayered process encompassing research, experimentation, production, and transformation, while examining how material and production knowledge can be reinterpreted through creative approaches.
The workshop will be held in Turkish.
About Kerem Ariş
A graduate of Boğaziçi University’s Department of Economics, Kerem Ariş turned to design and craftsmanship after nine years of professional experience in sales and marketing. In 2015, he laid the foundations of Uniqka, inspired by the idea of bringing together the craft heritage inherited from his father, sculptor Koray Ariş, with a contemporary approach to design.
As Creative Director of Uniqka, Ariş is also actively involved in the brand’s craft-based production processes. The works he has developed with Merve Parnas have been presented at international design weeks, fairs, and exhibitions, and featured in design publications across different countries. One of their collaborative works is part of the Baksı Museum Collection.
About Merve Parnas
A graduate of Marmara University’s Department of Business Administration, Merve Parnas joined Kerem Ariş in the development of Uniqka in 2016, following professional experience in textiles, retail, and luxury brands. With an approach centered on color, texture, materials, and detail, Parnas contributes to the brand’s creative and production processes, with a particular focus on production and quality.
Together with Kerem Ariş, she shapes Uniqka’s approach to design and craftsmanship while also taking an active role in the production processes carried out at the brand’s Istanbul workshop. Their collaborative works have been featured in international publications and presented at design weeks, fairs, and exhibitions, while one of their joint works is part of the Baksı Museum Collection.
About Uniqka
Uniqka is a design brand that brings traditional craft knowledge together with contemporary design. Collaborating with designers from different countries, the brand develops furniture, lighting, and objects for living spaces, placing simplicity, timeless design, long-lasting use, and high-quality craftsmanship at the center of its approach.
Combining traditional production methods with contemporary techniques and a range of materials, Uniqka uses leather as its signature material. Interpreting the material’s natural character and the way it changes over time through a contemporary design language, the brand produces each piece by hand in its Istanbul workshop. Respect for materials, attention to detail, and the ongoing relationship between design and craftsmanship form the foundation of Uniqka’s production approach.
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