MERVE CAYDERE

How long have you been working in theatre?

I have worked in theatre for 4 years before I transitioned to film and animation set design.

Have you always worked as a designer?

I have always worked as a designer but I turned into a different type of designer in every couple of years. I enjoy exploring different mediums.

Do you see the transitions that have happened in your career during the past few years, as being beneficial to your practice?

I transitioned from architecture to model making to theatre to film and finally to stop-motion animation. Little did I know each step was only feeding another. Each transition only felt natural and beneficial. Architecture and model making combined was basically a gateway to set design for stop-motion. I find it interesting how even the little things we do in life come together to add to a bigger picture. For example, I have been playing guitar since I was in middle school (in addition to occasional toe dips to other instruments). I was in bands in college. The rhythm aspect of music directly translates to the timing aspect of animation.

How has communication between directors and designers changed through the years? Do you enjoy working with the same directors on multiple projects?

It is hard for me to compare now and the past because my career doesn't go that far back. However, I do enjoy working with the same directors that I have had a good experience working when I have the chance. For me, it is a pleasure to talk about ideas, philosophies, and daily observations that are connected to the text. Those little relatable things help create the meaning, which then lays the groundwork for the design.

Is there a recent design that you have seen that has really made you happy with the current direction of scenic design?

I am a big fan of Leslie Travers' scenic design work. His design for "Francesca da Rimini" at Teatro alla Scala was incredible. Travers' work definitely excites me about the direction where scenic design is going.

Is there a particular way of working that you find yourself more attracted to? What strategies do you use to share your ideas?

I like to talk and think about little things in life to begin with. When an idea starts shaping, I usually directly start with a rough white maquette. To me it is really helpful to see things in a tangible and dimensional form. White models are also good tools to share and discuss ideas. Once it seems like we are on to something and things started making sense, I move to drafting.

Can you produce the work that you want to produce?

Producing the work I want to produce, or creative freedom, has always been the pushing force for me to shift careers. When I was working as an interior designer I felt very restricted by the client expectations. To me at the time it made sense because they were funding the creative process. But I wanted to be able to freely express ideas, so I transitioned to theatre set design. It definitely had more room for expression but had its own limitations, for sure. I am feeling like I am now finally able to produce the work I want as a stop-motion artist who makes her own shorts. I feel like I have complete creative freedom in this art form but I needed to gain experience in architecture, model making, theatre and film to be able to do what I am doing now. They all combined magically to give birth to my current path.