Maison Française: Can you share the story of how you became a designer?
Rüya Akyol: My journey as a designer began at an early age with my fascination for colors and objects. Transforming household items by cutting and reshaping them felt like a game to me. Although I drifted away from my creative side due to the influence of our education system, a visit to the Taşkışla building during my university selection process made me certain that I wanted to study there no matter what. I was accepted into my first-choice program, the Industrial Design Department at Istanbul Technical University (ITU). During my studies, I participated in an Erasmus exchange at Politecnico di Milano, where I took courses in Communication Design. After graduating second in my class, I moved to Milan and pursued a master’s degree at Domus Academy with a scholarship. With my experiences in Milan and Paris, design—something I had discovered in my childhood—became a lifelong passion and profession for me.

MF: How would you define your design style and philosophy?
R.Akyol: I would describe my design style as a fusion of my cultural roots, which bring a colorful and oriental aesthetic, and the contemporary design language of Italy. My interest in Scandinavian minimalism deepened even further with my husband being Swedish, allowing me to naturally integrate simplicity and functionality into my designs. Timelessness is a fundamental value that I always prioritize. At the same time, I do not see my designs as mere standalone objects but rather approach them holistically in relation to the spaces they inhabit and the collections they belong to.

MF: In your opinion, what contributions and differences do women bring to the design field?
R.Akyol: As designers, we have the power to shape life itself by designing the spaces we live in and the objects we use. While women’s contributions are vital in every industry, I believe we should be particularly prominent in creative fields like design. This is because our strong sense of empathy enables us to deeply understand needs and provide more thoughtful solutions. Additionally, attention to detail, a refined aesthetic sensitivity, and a unique approach to color usage are among the valuable contributions women bring to the world of design.

MF: Do you have any new projects you’d like to share with Maison Française?
R.Akyol: In 2025, we have many exciting new products launching. Besides the projects we are developing for our clients, this year, Ruya Akyol Studio will be participating in Salone Satellite at Salone del Mobile, an event dedicated to young designers. We have created a collection entirely in-house, from design to production, which we conceived not only as a series of products but also as a spatial experience reflecting our studio’s philosophy. Additionally, for Nossa Mobilya, with whom we began collaborating last year, we have introduced the Unio work desks and Ugo meeting tables in January. We are currently in the prototype phase for two new executive desk designs. Furthermore, we will be launching a variety of colorful and playful new products with the brand Oobje this year.