A space, almost akin to a story pushed into tangibility, more often than not, has plenty to say. The architecture, domineering, humble or derelict, fortifies a narrative; the walls, in their cracks and crevices (or spotless sheen), preserve fleeting traces of time; the colours and the lights collide in a composition awaiting a response. Only when an inanimate space interacts with people, is it enlivened with the reactions it elicits—the emotions, the movement of the eyes, the pauses and occasional moments of surprise. The setting transforms into a feeling, a story, an idea for the inhabitants to immerse themselves in.

New York-based spatial designer and artist Ceren Arslan pursues this “big feeling” in the striking spaces she conceives, storytelling being at the heart of her vision. Exploring beyond her background in architecture, she has collaborated with several international brands to create concept designs. Her art project and design agency EXIT, an expansion of her professional practice, specialises in concept architecture, spatial design and storytelling. Conceived as her escape from the monotony and restrictions that often are like traditional architecture practice, a creative playground almost, Arslan’s project breathes life into spaces that one “exits into”. These carefully contrived immersive experiences are an EXIT from the mundane reality, regular scenery and even the day-to-day state of mind.

Diving into this vivid oeuvre of both physical and digital spaces, environments that interpret familiarity in unconventional ways, STIR sits down with Arslan in an exclusive conversation. Here, the artist unpacks storytelling through design, out-of-the-box thinking, future-contemporary attitude, satirical elements and escapism. “EXIT at your own discretion.”

Anushka Sharma: How would you best describe your creative philosophy?

Ceren Arslan: My creative philosophy revolves around storytelling. It is the heart of my work where I connect the design with a narrative and speak the architecture with a wit. I find that as the essence of my work where I almost whisper to the audience what they are seeing because it helps me to see what my work tells as well. I often sit down without having the story and I come up with one through embracing the uncertainty and the process of exploration while observing how my mind travels through each layer I add. Without the story, I would say my work is incomplete.

Anushka: What is the thought behind the name of your practice, EXIT?

Ceren: I design spaces you exit into, meaning a space that exists within reality but a moment of escape. The inspiration was [the concept of] Heterotopias by Michel Foucault where he describes spaces that are different from the mundane such as bathhouses, gardens, theatres and even the act of a honeymoon. EXIT came from a non-political perspective but in a similar spirit of creating spaces that one can exit into to change their scenery and break the mundane. The name occurred to me as I was spending hours in front of the computer while designing the spaces, quite literally ‘exiting’ from reality. 

Anushka: Take us through your process of realising a space or design; what does it entail?

Ceren: I think the common nominator of my work is that there is one big idea and everything that I put into the design supports that idea. I usually start with an empty canvas of software or a piece of paper and design that big feeling. What are we looking at? How far are we looking? What is the frame? I see that one medium as my camera as if I am already taking a picture of the space even before designing it. Once I have a clear picture, I start adding more information to it such as lighting, imperfections and details.

Anushka: How do you use product design to reaffirm the character or storytelling of a space? What considerations do you make while selecting products to include in a space?

Ceren: I work with the products that inspire me and I can create a story out of them. One of my favourite product designers is Pietro Franceschini whose work I find quite inspiring and refreshing as he borrows ideas from engaging and familiar concepts such as Waldo, Objects of Anger and so on. I embrace the essence of his creativity and reflect that in an environment with amplification.

Anushka: The bold use of colour is a distinctive quality that ties your oeuvre together. What informs the choice of a colour palette for a project? Are you looking to elicit certain psychological and emotional responses?

Ceren: I love playing with colour. I think it adds a personality to the space and triggers an unfamiliar recognition for the eye. Instead of choosing what is expected for the function of the space, I go with what feels right for the mood of the architecture and I often end up with an unexpected result such as a yellow chessroom or a green basketball court. Architectural typologies are habitually associated with certain materiality, tone and weight and I find it refreshing to challenge that by introducing unconventional colours and textures. It certainly adds more character to the architecture as happy, melancholic or cold and stimulates an emotional response to receive that.

Anushka: Your projects also have a strong architectural language. How does your departure from traditional architecture practice allow you to morph spaces into something unconventional?

Ceren: I started working on EXIT while working at a large-scale architecture firm. It almost came out as a response to the nature of the architectural practice which can be quite repetitive, optimised and long-lasting. Working within the frame of reality, I was looking for my playground to create without thinking of all the restrictions. I believe that was the fuel to the design language I embraced with EXIT.

Anushka: The visual documentation of your projects features a series of low-lying shots with a centred perspective, the interventions appear grand. While the projects themselves warp conventionality, where does the sense of order in the visuals come from?

Ceren: There’s a fine line between hyper-realism and abstraction in EXIT. When you closely look at them, they are not as perfect as renders but they do borrow elements such as real-life objects, textures and imperfections. I also find lighting quite important to portray the emotion of the space which then can directly take you into the feeling without making you think too much about the space being real or not.

Anushka: What is NEXT for you?

Ceren: Next is to continue working on projects where I build more EXIT spaces. I’ve been developing the catalogue of spaces in a digital environment and am excited to see how they are flowing to come to life at a scale.