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Defne (ACI ‘01) comes from a family whose girls are all from ACI. I know the three sisters Çınla Egeman, Çiğdem and Candan (my classmate). Gül and Defne are Candan’s daughters. I was lucky to have Gül as my student. She was such an intellectually curious student. I wanted to learn about Defne, who has been in Canada for 16 years, away from her family. Her career and life should be interesting for our readers.
What did you do after ACI?
After ACI, I got into Graphic Design at Bilkent University. I graduated in 2005 and that summer I started working as a Junior Art Director at Rafineri Advertising Agency in Istanbul. While working in advertising, I realized I wanted to get my master’s degree as I always had an interest in teaching. I realized if I didn’t leave work and apply for schools soon, it would be harder to leave the professional life and go back to school. After some research and applying to a few different schools in the USA and in Vancouver BC Canada, I came to Vancouver to get a Master of Applied Arts in Design degree at Emily Carr University of Art and Design in 2008.
ECUAD is one of the best art schools in Canada, and I became one of a small group of grad students in a new program. It was also my ambition to work abroad for a few years, and at the time Canada allowed for a post grad work permit so I could work for 3 years following the completion of my degree.
Those 2 years of studying was such an exciting time; learning while experiencing a new city and starting a new life overseas as a 24-year-old. After graduating from ECUAD, I got my work permit to work as a designer. I started applying for jobs, and was able to get my first job at a well-known Canadian advertising and design firm through a friend’s landlord. It was such good luck, because if I hadn’t met her, and hadn’t shared that I was interested in that company, and if her landlord hadn’t been interested in passing on my portfolio to the creative director at that firm, I feel like I wouldn’t have made my start.
At the beginning, it was definitely difficult to build a network and find connections like these. I created my network after a few years of working in different companies and jobs.
How did you decide to study Graphic Design?
I decided to study graphic design when I was in high school. I loved art classes, but I also had a passion for English literature, reading, and writing. I wanted to find a profession where I could make a living by creating art, and someone suggested I try design. I remember it being described as “commercial art”—art that you can actually earn an income from—and it sounded like the perfect combination of everything I enjoyed at school.
At ACI, one of my most memorable projects was the anthology project. I remember including an art piece in it and feeling incredibly proud that I was able to incorporate my creativity into the project. As a child, I always used drawing and art as a way to express myself, so graphic design felt like the ideal profession for me as I grew older.
Where do you work at the moment?
I currently work as a Design Lead in the Student Communications Department at the University of British Columbia, under the Vice President Students Office. We’re a large communications, marketing and web design team. Our team is made up of 15 people, all working in different areas of communications, and I lead the design area. Our team works with different units and departments across the university to improve student experience and help other units communicate their messages.
What projects are you working on?
Our team is working on various campaigns to engage and inform UBC students, including web design, social media campaigns, and more. Recently, one of our major projects has been a branding initiative, where we are revitalizing the branding of UBC’s Career Centre and designing new assets to complement this updated visual identity. Part of this project involves environmental graphic design for the new UBC Career Centre space. In other words, the branding will not only exist in 2D or digital formats but will also be reflected in the physical, 3D space within the building.
Another of our large, long-term initiatives is the Student Design Systems project. We are updating and standardizing the design of our student-and staff-facing websites. These design systems establish standards to create a cohesive look and feel across all websites, ensuring that, regardless of how many new pages or pieces of content are added, the design and user experience remain consistent. Additionally, this project enhances our team’s ability to work creatively and efficiently, fostering innovation at a faster pace.
I’m particularly excited to be working on this project, as it brings together team members with diverse skill sets to collaborate. Since joining this team as a designer, I’ve been eager to redesign our websites. Seeing this project come to life, after being a work in progress for the past three years, feels incredibly rewarding.
What are some notable projects you worked on throughout your career?
Canada Post’s Canada Flag 50th Anniversary Stamp Set. This project is one I completed over six years ago, but its significance was heightened as its release coincided with me obtaining my Canadian Permanent Residency. It was such a highlight moment in my career because, at the time, I had been working at a design studio for more than two years, primarily designing brands for companies.
When our office had the opportunity to pitch designs for these stamps, I was eager to contribute. I knew that if my design was selected from the many submissions, it would be a significant achievement. Thankfully, Canada Post chose my stamp design, which also gave me the opportunity to create several other accompanying materials for the collection. It remains one of the proudest moments in my design journey.
I’m also quite proud of some of the large-scale projects I’ve worked on here at UBC. Design has a significant impact on the student experience, and being able to contribute to students’ life experiences during such an important time—through digital, print, or experiential projects—is not only fun but also incredibly rewarding. I feel so fortunate to do what I love for a living.
How has technological developments affected your career?
Graphic design—and design in general—has evolved significantly and is deeply influenced by technology. Recently, there has been a lot of discussion about AI and its impact on graphic design, and I find this topic quite exciting. While I do have some concerns about the use of AI in design and in any creative industry, I don’t believe it can replace human creativity at this stage. Instead, I see AI as a powerful creative assistant—a tool for generating prompts and inspiring new ideas.
Designers in training or recent graduates entering the field should embrace AI and treat it like any other design tool, such as Photoshop or Figma. One of AI’s greatest advantages is the speed and efficiency it brings to the creative process. Personally, I’m enthusiastic about these advancements and genuinely enjoy experimenting with them.
You’ve been living in Canada for years. What are your thoughts on living in Canada? And especially Vancouver?
I’m very happy to live in Canada and value many aspects of living in Canada, like multiculturalism and inclusivity, and the commitment to freedom and democracy. Vancouver, in particular, is a very liberal place. Canada is also known with its natural beauty, vast landscapes and especially in Vancouver outdoors and nature are easily accessible.
A lot of Vancouverites like to take advantage of nature and outdoor activities. Vancouver is a picturesque, multicultural city with a high quality of life. After living and working in Vancouver now for many years, I find there’s work-life balance and at the end of the work day, you have time for yourself which I think is very important.
What are some of the challenges of living in Vancouver?
Living in Vancouver comes with both challenges and conveniences. One of the biggest difficulties is the high cost of living, which can be a strain on day-to-day life. While Canada’s healthcare system offers free access to many services, navigating it as a patient can still be challenging at times, adding to the complexities of managing life here.
On the other hand, Vancouver offers a manageable and relatively easy pace of life. It’s a large city with all the amenities you’d expect from an urban center, yet it doesn’t feel overwhelming like other big cities. Its stunning natural beauty and easy access to outdoor activities are major advantages. Whether it’s the mountains, beaches, or parks, there are countless opportunities to enjoy nature and recreation, which makes living here feel refreshing and unique.
There are more and more people moving around on the planet for different reasons. Migration is inevitable. What would you advise young people who want to try studying and working overseas?
It’s been more than 16 years since I came to Vancouver. Over time, I’ve gotten used to it, and for some reason, I don’t feel like an immigrant anymore. It’s probably a mix of me adapting, becoming a bit Canadian myself, and Vancouver being such a multicultural city. It almost feels like everyone here moved from somewhere else.
Being away from family and friends, living on the other side of the world, is still hard. Over the years, I’ve started my own family, after I met my husband Ryan, and built my own circle, but being away from my family in Türkiye remains the toughest part. No matter how much a person adjusts to a new city, country, or culture, or overcomes the challenges, being away from loved ones—especially my parents—is still the most difficult thing for me. The distance between Canada and Türkiye doesn’t make it any easier.
My advice to those planning to immigrate is to take their time and not rush the process. Moving to a new country, finding a job, making friends, and adjusting to a new system are things that take patience and effort. I was fortunate to come here as a student, which gave me a head start in building a life here. However, I’ve seen friends struggle when they immigrated without connections, a professional network, or a clear understanding of how things work. It’s not an easy journey, but with time and persistence, it’s possible to find your place.
What do you remember and appreciate from your ACI years?
I always appreciated the special school spirit we have; it still feels like such a privilege to be an ACI alumni. From my school years, I remember our wonderful teachers, the amazing campus where we had so many memories at, and aside from the values our school taught us, I remember my friends, and the friendships we built for life.
As I built new relationships and friendships here in Canada, I also appreciate the quality of education I received at such an early age, and how the ACI experience prepared me to be a resourceful and capable individual creating my own path in career and life.
Thank you, Defne. Don’t forget we are always here for you. The school spirit is still around. Hope to visit you in Vancouver some time.
