Bringing Design Back Home

Image Courtesy Mercado Studio

Living Cult joined Mercado Studio for the second time last May, taking part in the second edition of Mercado Design Days 2026 at 212 Studio in Karaköy/Istanbul. This edition also marked an important first for us: Baggage Claim Mirrors were exhibited as a complete set for the first time.

The collection had previously been presented internationally, including at Milan Design Week and Collectible New York, but only the table-top piece “Baggage Claim-M” could be brought to these exhibitions. Shipping large-scale mirrors internationally, dealing with customs and insurance can make it difficult to bring an entire collection abroad.

This time, being able to show the full set in our home Istanbul made it possible to experience the collection as it was originally intended, together, with all of its shiny glory. The set was also installed with one of Jotun’s new colours called Sophisticated Red, which made our mirrors pop even more and created a particularly fitting backdrop for the collection. But the value of a local exhibition goes beyond simply avoiding the logistics of international shipping. It made it possible to share our designs with the people we already know, engage and work together that aren’t always possible at international exhibitions.

Mercado Design Days brought together many designers and creatives  including architects, industrial designers, artists and creatives across different disciplines, but the number of people represented a much larger network.

There are many Turkish designers currently developing their practices within Turkey, alongside Turkish designers who have moved abroad and are now working across Europe and elsewhere. Despite being geographically dispersed, there is a natural interest in connecting with one another and keeping up with what is happening within the wider Turkish design community.

A local community creates an environment where that knowledge can be shared and appreciated more naturally. A conversation with fellow designers and visitors including design enthusiasts and industry professionals can be just as valuable as an introduction to a potential client or gallery. Sometimes, simply hearing that someone else is dealing with the same challenges can be reassuring and motivating.

It is crucial seeing peers at similar stages of their careers. The design industry can feel quite fragmented, especially for emerging and mid-career designers. In this perspective, a stronger local network does not mean becoming more inward-looking, instead, it can be a way of expanding our reach beyond our immediate circles.

The exhibition was not trying to define Turkish design or present a single aesthetic. Instead, it brought together a group of people working in different ways but sharing many of the same experiences. There was a strong presence of architecture backgrounds, alongside industrial design, ceramics, textile, and other creative disciplines. The practices were varied, but there was a noticeable sense of being part of the same ecosystem.

From left to right: Plasthetics, Edetri, Maral Taskirici, Ezlura, Studio Yellowdot, Meta Studio, Od Ceramics, Studio Mohs

What made MDD particularly enjoyable was that it represents one of the first initiatives of its kind, proposing a design-focused event in Istanbul and showing the potential for the city to host a much larger design event of its own, on a scale comparable to those in cultural capitals such as London, Milan, or Paris. Istanbul has an enormous amount of creative potential, with many designers working locally who could benefit from more opportunities to meet, collaborate, exchange ideas, and present their work. At the same time, an event of this scale could invite designers and visitors from around the world to experience the city’s creative energy and discover what Istanbul has to offer.

For Living Cult, exhibiting the Baggage Claim Mirrors as a complete collection was an important part of the experience. But just as valuable was being surrounded by other designers working through many of the same questions.

International exhibitions can take a piece of Turkish design out into the world. Local gatherings can bring the people making that design back together.

*All photographs and videos featured in this article were captured by the author unless a specific image states otherwise.