We were lucky to catch up with Oyku Unver recently and have shared our conversation below.

Oyku, appreciate you joining us today. Do you think your parents have had a meaningful impact on you and your journey?

My career began very early—without me even realizing it. I was in kindergarten when I started drawing. My parents were amazed to see a five-year-old sketch little princesses when, as my dad used to say, they couldn’t even draw a flower. He would jokingly accuse me of tracing images, but soon he realized I had both a talent and a passion for drawing.

I was very lucky to have parents who encouraged me to create from such an early age. I grew up in Turkey, where I was led to believe that art was not—and could not be—a viable career option. But I chose not to listen to those voices. I trusted that my parents saw something special in me.

All that support, years of training, entering competitions, displaying my work in galleries, graduating from Parsons School of Design, and constantly imagining brought me to this moment. Today, I can proudly say I am a designer and an artist—all thanks to my day-one supporters: my mom and dad.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Hi, my name is Oyku. I was born and raised in Istanbul, Turkey. I am deeply connected to my culture and my people, which is one of the reasons I find myself drawn to portraying a sense of warmth and familiarity in my work. I am an artist and designer who loves color. Throughout my life, one thing I’ve consistently returned to is the use of color—exploring how it can evoke emotion, create atmosphere, and offer a unique sensory experience.

I’ve been drawing and painting for as long as I can remember, which eventually led me to pursue design school, where I built upon my skills and grew into the designer I always aspired to be. As a designer, my greatest inspiration comes from nature—and, unexpectedly for some, from insects. While this might catch people off guard, insects are some of the most intricate and fascinating creations in the natural world. Their colors, textures, and forms are often unexplainable yet mesmerizing—they are, in themselves, works of art. I’m constantly amazed by the details we overlook, and I make it a point to not just look, but to truly see.

Art is everywhere—it’s in the patterns of a leaf, the shimmer of a beetle’s wing, or the shadows cast by city lights. I am passionate about integrating vibrant colors and rich textures into my work, whether that’s through illustration, tech products, textile design, or even CMF (color, material, and finish) in the automotive industry.

I am very proud of the journey I’ve taken so far—from sketching as a child in Istanbul to becoming a multidisciplinary designer with a unique point of view in New York City. I strive to create work that resonates with others, that feels alive and full of meaning. And as I continue to grow, I remain excited to explore new ways of telling visual stories that connect people, culture, and the unseen beauty of the world around us.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

I very clearly remember the first book I read that truly changed my perspective as a child: Matilda by Roald Dahl.

Matilda is a precocious five-year-old girl with an extraordinary love for reading and learning—qualities that set her apart from her neglectful and dismissive parents, who see no value in curiosity or intellect. What struck me most was her quiet strength, independence, and belief in the power of knowledge. Despite the challenges she faced, Matilda created her own path through resilience, intelligence, and imagination.

Looking back, I realize how much that story shaped the foundation of my thinking. It taught me that leadership isn’t always loud or conventional—it can be gentle, clever, and quietly powerful. It instilled in me the idea that you can challenge the norm, trust your instincts, and overcome resistance with determination and creativity.

As I’ve grown into my own journey as a designer and entrepreneur, those early lessons from Matilda continue to resonate. I believe that imagination, empathy, and self-belief are just as crucial in business as strategy or structure. That book was my first lesson in challenging limitations—something I carry with me in every project and every decision I make.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

Yes, there is a clear mission that drives my creative journey: to translate the way I see the world into visual form—whether that’s through illustrations, objects, or experiences—in order to communicate my own human story and evoke emotion in others. My goal is to create work that allows people to feel something real, even if just for a moment. Whether it’s joy, nostalgia, curiosity, or comfort, I want my art to connect on a human level.

What keeps me going is the overwhelming beauty and complexity of the world around me. I often feel like a toddler—wide-eyed, endlessly curious, constantly questioning purpose, and fascinated by every detail. That childlike wonder is a core part of who I am and how I create. There’s still so much to explore, feel, and express—and that sense of discovery is what fuels my journey every single day.

Fittingly, my name is Öykü, which means “story” in Turkish. That has always felt like a quiet but powerful reminder of what I’m here to do: tell stories—visually, emotionally, and with intention

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.oykuunver.com
• Instagram: @unveroyku
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oyku-unver