The characters of Ozgur Kanadikirik
I enjoy the modern twist of classic letters by Ozgur Kanadikirik. I applaud a lettering artist who can give a character more character. When I saw Ozgur's work I had to contact him for Lettering Guy.
1. Your name and title/business name/location?
I am Ozgur Kanadikirik. Also known as "kalippodesign"; working in a local design agency and making freelance stuff since 2006. Living in Turkey, in the capital city Ankara.
2. Do you have a specialty or special style that makes you relatively unique? If so, what?
I don't know if it is specialty or not but I feel very fine on my ornamented letterings. Especially complex leaf and branch patterns are my favorite.
3. What's your educational background, i.e., college, professional school, high school, apprenticeship, etc.?
I studied Arabic Language and Literature in Ankara University. In my second year I was very sure about having a fine-arts degree. But I failed in the Graphic Design entrance exams. Since that time I have been collecting everything about graphic design, lettering, typography, 80's poster art, vintage commercials and branding, and more in my brain; by myself. Thanks to this collection I am able to design what I feel like. I am both the mentor, and the disciple of my own.
4. Preferred tool(s) and medium?
Everything is digital! I cannot find myself sketching on a blank paper for a brand new logo design or typography design. Flexibility is everything for me. Any vector-based software is my best friend in this design journey. From sketch to the final results, generally I stay in the same file.
5. Where or how do you "recharge your creative battery," i.e., books, blogs, music, art, exercise, meditation, prayer, hobbies, interests, etc.?
Music is my everything. I am a music man and since the first times of my design journey; I've been making music and producing sounds. I cannot think neither design nor music without each other. Music always feeds my motivation on design. Also as a Kung-Fu practitioner, I can find my balance in life and this makes me a better person; in daily life and in my creative process.
6. Tell us something about you that might surprise or delight us.
I was a promising basketball player in my high-school times. I would be playing in the pro-league. When the election day for the pro-team came; I couldn't catch the locker room key that my friend threw to me. So I lost my right eye vision. That was the last time I was so close to the professional career. Now my both eyes are fine but just serving for the design hoops.