Defne Koz

Specialising in industrial design, Defe Koz was born in Turkey and raised in Italy. She trained at the studio of Ettore Sottsass, an Italian architect and designer, and went on to found her own design studio alongside Marco Susani. Koz and Susani met in Milan, and their creative practice is largely influenced by the aesthetic sensibilities of Italian design and the years they spent in the city studying and working under the likes of Alberto Meda. Studio Koz-Susani curates high-quality designs that enrich everyday life and have won a collection of awards.

Defne Koz herself designs pieces which are innovative and emotional, she has become one of the most renowned Turkish designers and is also a member of the Art and Design Advisory Board of Akbank. Her interests span from humanising new technologies to rediscovering the tradition of handmade products. Common to all her projects is her research on the sensorial qualities of materials.

Today I live and work between Chicago, Milano and Istanbul, but no matter where I am, I consider myself an ‘Italian designer’, because the culture of these years in Milano shaped my way of thinking and working." - Defne Koz