A young man with dark, curly hair and light skin sitting on a stone bench in front of a green shrub wall with a fountain featuring a lion's head spouting water.

ABOUT ME

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ABOUT ME ·

I am Taha Solakoğlu, an Industrial Product Designer seeking to build on an MSc in Product and Service Design and internship experience across automotive, appliances, and decorative design. Confident in learning new skills and adapting into new environments.

My design approach is both research-led and hands-on, starting with understanding people and problems, then exploring solutions through sketching and prototyping.

A man with dark curly hair tied in a bun sits at a desk in a classroom or conference room, with a large projection screen behind him. The projected image on the screen shows two people walking by a stone wall, one with a backpack.

Education

  • Master of Science in Product and Service Design, 4.0 GPA

    Thesis on the topic of More than Human Centered Design, Pet Evacuation Tool kit.

    2023 - 2026

  • Bachelor of Arts in Industrial Product Design, 3.37 GPA

    Cultivated a skill set spanning sketching, design thinking, 3D modeling and rendering. Final project was on a teardrop trailer.

    2019 - 2023

  • Participated in FRC and MiniSumo Robotic

    Competitions. Won Excellence in Engineering in 2020,

    Bosphorus Regional.

    2015 - 2019

Experience

  • Gained insight in manufacturing processes of interior and exterior car parts. Learned how to use Catia and involve it into my workflow.

    September 2024

  • Designed decorative objects using Grasshopper.Developed myself in high fidelity prototyping through FDM printing and post processing.

    June 2023

  • Attended design thinking meetings, taking part in the R&D department. Tested products and took part in the development of a handheld iron.

    August 2022

Software

These are the tools I use throughout my design workflow. Click on an icon for details.

Skills

Design : Product Sketching - Concept Development - Design Research - Design Thinking

Development : 3D Modeling - Prototyping - 3D Printing - Arduino/Working Prototypes

Communication : Product Rendering - Visualisation - Motion Design

A digital sketch of a group of chairs, some with metal frames and others with cushioned seats, arranged in a free sketch layout
Sketch of various chairs and furniture pieces arranged on a gray background.
Digital 3D models of a medical design shown in Rhinoceros 3D modeling software. One of them with zebra, the other showing wireframe.
Electrical components, wires, and a motor are placed inside a cardboard box, Part of a working prototype in an industrial design class.
A workspace with two computer monitors displaying 3D printing software, a white 3D printed object in front of a laptop.
Electrolux 2022 Handheld vacuum render.
Industrial design sketches of a pet carrier with labeled parts including a harness, front profile, food container, wind blocker, and instructions for releasing and locking handles.
Industrial design Sketch of a pet feeding station and cat entry area with annotations indicating features like a speaker for sound, a food tray, and a feeding interface.
Close-up of a Bambuc Lab 3D printer extruder head during printing, with a black print bed and a black plastic component nearby, along with sketches on paper underneath.
Outdoor park working area. Industrial design prototyping. high fidelity prototyping. sanding, polishing and 3d printing.

WHO AM I?

WHO AM I?

What else do i do?

  • Person with curly hair taking a photo with a camera on a city street, buildings with multiple windows in the background.

    Analog Photography

    I’m interested in analog photography and enjoy taking my film camera with me when I travel. I like the slower, more intentional process of shooting on film and the unpredictability that comes with it.

  • Person performing a skateboard trick in an outdoor skating area during dusk, with trees and residential buildings in the background.

    Skateboarding

    Skateboarding has taught me a lot about persistence. It means failing, getting back up, trying again, and sometimes failing many more times before finally succeeding. For me, it is also a form of meditation, a few hours where I have to be completely present and focused on what I am doing.

  • Close-up of the Florence Cathedral (Cattedale di Santa Maria del Fiore) with a no-entry traffic sign in the foreground. Photo by Taha Solakoglu.

    Travelling

    I enjoy traveling because it gives me the chance to experience different places, cultures, and ways of living. Wherever I go, I also like meeting local people, making new friends, and experiencing a place through the people who live there.

  • A small electronic setup on a table with a green lighted ring and wires connected to a microcontroller, a U-shaped stand above the setup, in a room with white walls and two black chairs. An arduino project.

    Making

    I started experimenting with Arduino and small robots in high school, and I have kept that maker mindset ever since. I enjoy designing things for myself, 3D printing parts, and building the electronics when needed. Before buying something, one of my first thoughts is usually: can I make it myself?

  • A drum set and electric guitar on a stand with a sound mixer and headphones nearby, in a dark room, possibly a recording studio. Yamaha DTX 532K.

    Drumming

    I’ve been playing drums for over eight years, and music has become an important part of my life. I enjoy playing across different genres, from punk, metal, and rock to funk and pop, which keeps drumming varied and fun.

Feel free to get in touch!

Whether it’s about work, design, a project, or really anything else.

Contact Me