Yetkin Başarır is a creative director and brand strategist with over 30 years of independent practice at the intersection of visual identity, culture and technology. Based in Istanbul, he has built a sustained consultancy serving public institutions, corporations, publishers, cultural organisations and NGOs across Turkey and internationally.
He is best known for the Kent typeface, designed for Istanbul's city identification and street signage system, and the visual identity of Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture. His portfolio spans 100+ identity and communication projects for Turkey's most prominent institutions — including the Turkish Space Agency, TUSIAD, Salt, IKSV, Beyoğlu Municipality and Arkas World of Sports.
A long-term collaborator rather than a project-based vendor, he works as an embedded creative director — bringing strategic vision, identity architecture and executive judgment to the organisations he works with. His practice combines typographic precision and design craft with fluency in AI-assisted workflows and generative digital methods.
Alongside his consultancy practice, he is the founder of Topographies of Attention, a new initiative developing digital products and applications at the intersection of AI, art and everyday experience.
Active Ventures
Yetkin Başarır — Design & Consultancy 1997 – Present Independent creative direction and brand consultancy practice operating across Brand Identity, Editorial Design, Information Architecture, Design Strategy, Content Strategy and Identity Strategy.
Yetkin Başarır — Design & Consultancy 1997 – Present Independent creative direction and brand consultancy practice operating across Brand Identity, Editorial Design, Information Architecture, Design Strategy, Content Strategy and Identity Strategy.
Topographies of Attention — t-of-a.com 2024 – Present A new brand at the intersection of AI, digital product design and art practice. Develops applications and digital pieces exploring attention, memory, place and rhythm.
Selected Design Works
2026 — Logo design, Media Arts Association 2025 — Visual identity & logo, TAM Museum, Berlin 2024 — Visual identity & logo, Arkas World of Sports 2024 — Visual identity & logo, Istanbul Experimental Film Festival 2020 — Visual identity & logo, Salt 2019 – — Brand identity renewal & consultancy, Fıtaş Pasajı, Beyoğlu, Istanbul (ongoing) 2019 — Logo design, Human Rights Defenders Solidarity Network 2008–14 — Collection book design, Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey 2007 — Visual identity, Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture 2006 — Visual identity & logo, IKSV, Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts 2006 — Visual identity & logo, Beyoğlu Municipality 2006 — Typeface design, Kent — Istanbul city identification / street signage system 1997– — Book and cover design, Metis, Literatur, Pandora Publishers and others 1998 — Exhibition design, To Become a Citizen, Yapı Kredi Bank 1996 — Exhibition design, Housing and Settlement in Anatolia, Habitat II Convention, Istanbul 1995 — Visual design, Evrensel daily newspaper
2026 — Logo design, Media Arts Association 2025 — Visual identity & logo, TAM Museum, Berlin 2024 — Visual identity & logo, Arkas World of Sports 2024 — Visual identity & logo, Istanbul Experimental Film Festival 2020 — Visual identity & logo, Salt 2019 – — Brand identity renewal & consultancy, Fıtaş Pasajı, Beyoğlu, Istanbul (ongoing) 2019 — Logo design, Human Rights Defenders Solidarity Network 2008–14 — Collection book design, Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey 2007 — Visual identity, Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture 2006 — Visual identity & logo, IKSV, Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts 2006 — Visual identity & logo, Beyoğlu Municipality 2006 — Typeface design, Kent — Istanbul city identification / street signage system 1997– — Book and cover design, Metis, Literatur, Pandora Publishers and others 1998 — Exhibition design, To Become a Citizen, Yapı Kredi Bank 1996 — Exhibition design, Housing and Settlement in Anatolia, Habitat II Convention, Istanbul 1995 — Visual design, Evrensel daily newspaper
Awards & Recognition
2021 — Turkish Space Agency, Logo Design Award 2019 — Book Design Award, Graphis Design Annual 2011 — Turkish Industry and Business Association (TUSIAD), Logo Design Award 2004 — Selected as jury member, Exhibition of Graphic Products, Association of Graphic Artists 1999 — Posters selected for the permanent collection, Museum für Gestaltung, Zurich 1997 — Print selected for the Vakko Scarf Collection 1992 — Achievement Award, Golden Triangle Illustration Competition, Aksoy Printing House 1985 — Merit Award, Akbank Competition for Young Painters 1984–85 — Merit Award, Book Cover and Binding Competition, Printers and Binders Association, Istanbul
2021 — Turkish Space Agency, Logo Design Award 2019 — Book Design Award, Graphis Design Annual 2011 — Turkish Industry and Business Association (TUSIAD), Logo Design Award 2004 — Selected as jury member, Exhibition of Graphic Products, Association of Graphic Artists 1999 — Posters selected for the permanent collection, Museum für Gestaltung, Zurich 1997 — Print selected for the Vakko Scarf Collection 1992 — Achievement Award, Golden Triangle Illustration Competition, Aksoy Printing House 1985 — Merit Award, Akbank Competition for Young Painters 1984–85 — Merit Award, Book Cover and Binding Competition, Printers and Binders Association, Istanbul
Selected Exhibitions
2022 — Present, Generative Video Installation, 400x118 Initiative, IMC, Istanbul 2018 — Logo Exhibition, K2 Contemporary Art Gallery 2010 — Photographs, Edisyon, Istanbul 2005 — Photography series, For Art, Platform Contemporary Art Center, Istanbul 2004 — Photography series, Istanbul, IFA Galleries, Stuttgart & Berlin 2003 — Photography series, Where is Here?: Turkish Art Today, Museum of Modern Art, Saitama/Tokyo 2002 — Collection, Under the Beach: The Pavement, Proje4L, Istanbul 2000 — Play 1, Hafriyat, Tünel/Istanbul 1999 — Cast (with Mona Jas), Kunstbank, Berlin 1998 — Poster, Second International Triennial of Stage Poster, Sofia 1998 — Poster, Brecht 100 Plakate, Berliner Ensemble & VGD, Berlin 1995 — Poster, Zgraf7 Zagreb International Exhibition of Graphic Design & Visual Communications
2022 — Present, Generative Video Installation, 400x118 Initiative, IMC, Istanbul 2018 — Logo Exhibition, K2 Contemporary Art Gallery 2010 — Photographs, Edisyon, Istanbul 2005 — Photography series, For Art, Platform Contemporary Art Center, Istanbul 2004 — Photography series, Istanbul, IFA Galleries, Stuttgart & Berlin 2003 — Photography series, Where is Here?: Turkish Art Today, Museum of Modern Art, Saitama/Tokyo 2002 — Collection, Under the Beach: The Pavement, Proje4L, Istanbul 2000 — Play 1, Hafriyat, Tünel/Istanbul 1999 — Cast (with Mona Jas), Kunstbank, Berlin 1998 — Poster, Second International Triennial of Stage Poster, Sofia 1998 — Poster, Brecht 100 Plakate, Berliner Ensemble & VGD, Berlin 1995 — Poster, Zgraf7 Zagreb International Exhibition of Graphic Design & Visual Communications
Publications
2020 — The Face of Branding, Diego Vainesman — works included 2015 — Slanted Magazine #24 — works included 2006 — User's Manual: Contemporary Art in Turkey 1986–2006, Art-ist Publishing 2005 — Flu, Cüneyt Özdemir, Yapı Kredi Publishing — photography series selected 2004 — Exhibition catalogue, Istanbul, IFA Gallery, Stuttgart 2003 — Exhibition catalogue, Where is Here?: Turkish Art Today, Museum of Modern Art, Saitama/Tokyo 1998 — Exhibition catalogue, Brecht 100 Plakate, VGD, Berlin
2020 — The Face of Branding, Diego Vainesman — works included 2015 — Slanted Magazine #24 — works included 2006 — User's Manual: Contemporary Art in Turkey 1986–2006, Art-ist Publishing 2005 — Flu, Cüneyt Özdemir, Yapı Kredi Publishing — photography series selected 2004 — Exhibition catalogue, Istanbul, IFA Gallery, Stuttgart 2003 — Exhibition catalogue, Where is Here?: Turkish Art Today, Museum of Modern Art, Saitama/Tokyo 1998 — Exhibition catalogue, Brecht 100 Plakate, VGD, Berlin
Music & Film
2026 — Film score, Veha, directed by Elif Sözen 2024 — Live performance, Hope Alkazar, Istanbul 2015 — Solo album, BUL, vinyl, Slanted Records, Germany 2004 — P.O.P., Akbank Jazz Festival, Babylon, Istanbul 2004 — P.O.P., Phonem Electronic Music Festival, Istanbul 2004 — P.O.P., Rock&Coke Festival, Istanbul 2002 — P.O.P., Tünel, Istanbul
2026 — Film score, Veha, directed by Elif Sözen 2024 — Live performance, Hope Alkazar, Istanbul 2015 — Solo album, BUL, vinyl, Slanted Records, Germany 2004 — P.O.P., Akbank Jazz Festival, Babylon, Istanbul 2004 — P.O.P., Phonem Electronic Music Festival, Istanbul 2004 — P.O.P., Rock&Coke Festival, Istanbul 2002 — P.O.P., Tünel, Istanbul
Academic & Workshops
2018 — Workshop Facilitator, Yaşar University International Graphic Design Days 2009— Photography Workshop Facilitator, Departures Workshops with Ali Kabaş 2008 — Typography Instructor, Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, Graphic Design Dept. 1999 — Typography Instructor, Istanbul Technical University, Industrial Design Dept.
2018 — Workshop Facilitator, Yaşar University International Graphic Design Days 2009— Photography Workshop Facilitator, Departures Workshops with Ali Kabaş 2008 — Typography Instructor, Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, Graphic Design Dept. 1999 — Typography Instructor, Istanbul Technical University, Industrial Design Dept.
Founder & Co-founder
2024— Founder, Topographies of Attention (t-of-a.com) 2010 — Co-founder, Edisyon Independent Artists' Gallery, Istanbul (with Çağlar Kanzık) 2009— Co-founder, Departures Photography Workshops & Publishing (with Ali Kabaş and Hidayet Doğan) 2007– — Founder, Harf Type Foundry 2002— Co-founder & musician, P.O.P. Electronic Music Band (with Umut Çağlar)
2024— Founder, Topographies of Attention (t-of-a.com) 2010 — Co-founder, Edisyon Independent Artists' Gallery, Istanbul (with Çağlar Kanzık) 2009— Co-founder, Departures Photography Workshops & Publishing (with Ali Kabaş and Hidayet Doğan) 2007– — Founder, Harf Type Foundry 2002— Co-founder & musician, P.O.P. Electronic Music Band (with Umut Çağlar)
