In the sixteenth episode of "The 13th Hour," we engage in a conversation with Carilla Karahan, the celebrated Turkish designer and illustrator known for his boundary-pushing poster designs characterized by an experimental and playful style.

During our discussion, we trace the origins of his career, starting from his early forays into poster design competitions, which eventually led to significant breakthroughs showcased at various exhibitions. We delve into his distinct artistic approach, marked by blurred elements and rich gradients, heavily influenced by the aesthetics of Japanese design. Moreover, we explore some of his notable projects, including a special edition box set design commemorating Pier Paolo Pasolini’s 100th anniversary. Dive into this captivating chapter of our ongoing 13th Hour series for a deeper insight into Carilla Karahan's creative journey and achievements.

1 - At 13am, we aim to celebrate and showcase a broad range of creative roles, disciplines and skillsets. How would you describe yourself and your role within the creative world to those unfamiliar with your work?

I believe my work is best described as playful, experimental, and bold. I strive to push boundaries by blending illustrations, shapes, colors, and typography in my creations.

2 - Another aspect that sets 13am apart is our commitment to diversity and representation among our artists. Could you share a bit about your background and where you call home?

I am a graphic designer/illustrator based in Istanbul, Turkey. When I was in high school, I decided to study Graphic Design because it seemed more comfortable and interesting to me at that time. During my studies in Graphic Design for my associate degree, I took a Basic Design course where we received homework assignments. One of the assignments was to visit the 35th Graphic Design Exhibition organized by the Turkish Graphic Designer Association (GMK). This exhibition takes place every year in Istanbul. I had never heard of this exhibition before and knew nothing about it. When I visited the exhibition, it completely blew my mind. There were very different and creative works from various categories like poster design, book design, branding, etc. However, I was most impressed by the posters. There were many posters that broke the rules and clichés.

In 2018, I began participating in poster design competitions. Initially, I entered 1-2 competitions, but I was unsuccessful, and my motivation decreased at that time. Later that year, I became interested in poster design, especially Polish posters, and started improving myself in that area by creating posters almost every week for Blank Poster. Afterward, I participated in and exhibited at several competitions, exhibitions, and biennales such as Mut Zur Wut, International Poster Biennale Lublin, Graphic Design Festival Scotland, etc. It was exciting to experience success at that time, even though I didn’t win any prizes. I believe it helped me improve my skills in poster design, but most importantly, it helped me maintain my creativity.

3 - How would you define your artistic style? Has it evolved or undergone any changes over time?

There are main two styles I have worked on: the hand-drawn style and an abstract, gradient-heavy, blurry style. However, I have also tried different styles over time because I love to experiment and try different things. Additionally, as a graphic designer, there were times when I needed to work in a different range of styles depending on the context of the work.

4 - Can you walk us through your creative process? How do you transform an idea into a tangible piece of work?

Usually, I start with sketches in my notebook, but sometimes I play around in Photoshop and spontaneously come up with ideas, sketches, and even final pieces of work from there. Most of my work is digitally created. I also enjoy making analog collages in my free time.

5 - In terms of inspiration, where do you go to find this? Who were your main influencers and inspirations as you were growing up?

Lately, I have been very inspired by the works of Ikko Tanaka and Koichi Sato, especially their posters with lots of gradients and textures. I really love these vibes. Many of my posters were heavily influenced by Japanese masters of graphic design. I also adore artists such as Keith Haring, Braulio Amado, Félicité Landrivon, and Alexis Jamet. Their influence can be seen in some of my works.

6 - What advice would you offer aspiring artists or photographers looking to establish themselves in the industry?

My advice might sound a bit cliché, but I believe that consistently sharing your work on social media platforms like Pinterest, Tumblr, etc., can help grow your audience and visibility, leading to more opportunities.

7 - Creative roadblocks affect many individuals in our field. How do you unwind and revitalize your creative energy? Are there any hobbies or passions you pursue outside of your work?

There were times when I felt uninspired and struggled to find ideas, so I looked back at some of my rejected and personal projects and found them valuable. In my archive, there are many experimental digital collages, drawings, and personal illustrations that didn’t make the final cut of the projects I worked on, and I am trying to recycle them by turning them into something new. Besides that, I am always looking for inspiration in real life, observing everyday objects, reading design and art books, watching movies, etc.

8 - Reflecting on your career, could you share a standout project or collaboration that you consider a highlight? How did the opportunity come about?

A standout project for me is a special edition box set design celebrating Pier Paolo Pasolini's 100th Anniversary. I created it as a graduation project at university. It was quite challenging because I spent several months researching and finding visuals, but I am very pleased with how it turned out. Additionally, recent poster designs for 29palms have been well-received by the public and can be considered one of the highlights of my career at the moment.

9 - Can you provide a little insight into your current projects and any upcoming plans you have in the pipeline? Is there anything we should be looking out for in the not too distant future?

Currently I’m working on some poster designs for 29palms and Kinobites.

10 - What has your experience been like collaborating with 13am thus far, and what motivated you to join forces with us?

I find George’s project very exciting and refreshing, and I am thrilled to participate in this platform with so many great artists.

11 - Looking ahead, what would be your dream project or client to tackle in the future?

I think a dream project for me would be illustrating a cover for New Yorker & designing album covers/posters/merch for my favourite musicians.

12 - To conclude on a lighter note, imagine hosting a dinner party where you could invite four individuals, living or deceased, who would they be and why?

It’s a tough question but I think I would invite Keith Haring, Shigeo Fukuda, Paul Thomas Anderson & Mac DeMarco.

13 - If you were granted the power of time travel, which historical event would you choose to witness firsthand, and what intrigues you about it?

I would love to travel back to the beginning of the 1990s to witness live shows from bands like Nirvana, Sonic Youth, and My Bloody Valentine.