We’re looking forward to introducing you to Ozan Karakoc. Check out our conversation below.
Ozan, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
I have two types of ‘first 90 minutes’.
The first one is a light start with almost no responsibilities: I wake up at 7, check my phone for news (from the other side of the world) and some completely unnecessary things, then have my breakfast and sit at my desk for the work day.
The second one starts with the struggle of waking up my son with a variety of silly moves, choosing his clothes for the day, making breakfast, preparing his lunch box, dropping him off at school, and heading to the gym (which I proudly started at the age of 41!).
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Ozan Karakoc, a brand designer, storyteller, and dad based in Los Angeles. With 25 years of experience in design and the creative industries, I run my own design studio, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. Over the past decade, I’ve had the chance to work with brands ranging from Fortune 500 companies to mid-sized organizations, visionary start-ups to small businesses, and more. No matter how big or small the project, the mission stays the same: to create designs that are not only visually compelling but also strategically meaningful. In other words, ‘design that works’.
These days, I’m working on a very exciting and detail-rich sports-related mobile app design, the new product release of one of my ongoing clients in the fitness industry, and the packaging for a promising upcoming dietary supplement that I believe has the potential to be a real game-changer.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
This is a very important question, one I actually ask myself from time to time.
I can honestly say I don’t have regrets. I pursued what I wanted, when I wanted: I studied design, earned my Master’s Degree in Cinematography, started my professional design career early, moved abroad to break the glass ceiling above me, married my high school love, became the father of a wonderful son, and eventually started my own design business, which gave me the privilege to set my own rules, choose the projects I truly wanted to work on, and build long-term collaborations on my own terms.
That said, yes, “the world told me who I had to be.” In my case, it meant embracing a more “proper” life where earning money took priority, so I could provide for my family.
Before that adulthood pressure hit, I was very entrepreneurial alongside being a designer. I couldn’t stop creating: I built a music website at 16 that became a multiple award-winning success, and later launched an online visual arts magazine that grew into a global hit, reaching millions of readers across 140 countries and ultimately opening the doors for me to move to Los Angeles. Along the way I also made a short film, wrote poetry, played soccer every Sunday, and even started learning guitar.
But when the time for being the official breadwinner came, I had to slow down on that entrepreneurial side and focus on the career I have always loved.
Is it impossible to get back to that mentality? Probably not. But I am an extremely responsible person, and I don’t like the idea of risking my loved ones’ life standards for “crazy moves,” even if those moves might make me excited.
So yes, I was quite prepared for this question. 🙂 Time will show where this will lead to.
Is there something you miss that no one else knows about?
I miss the times when I truly felt hopeful about the future of the world. Back then, being good, wise, and responsible was considered a real asset. People admired those values.
As time passed and social media penetrated our lives, it exposed a darker side of humanity. It showed us how cruel people can be. I genuinely miss my childhood and teenage years, when we connected face-to-face, focused on emotions, and spent quality time with what we read and watched. Today it feels like the whole world has developed a kind of ADHD. No one can concentrate, we struggle to finish even a single page without distraction. At the same time, we are constantly bombarded with harsh, uncensored images of violence, wars, and cruelty. I probably haven’t watched a single video of an actual murder before the age of 15. Today, that content is everywhere, publicly available, and extremely easy to access. That is so wrong.
All of this makes people less empathetic. Many live in a constant survival mode, thinking only about themselves, overwhelmed by (very real) threats and anxieties about the future, from climate change, to evil politicians, AI-driven future where they won’t be able to find a job, to other people making fun of their appearance on Instagram.
I miss the days when we freely played on the streets, without our parents worrying about kidnappers, traffic, or hidden dangers. In some ways, I feel my generation was the last to truly enjoy a carefree childhood before the internet (and especially the social media) changed everything.
Experiencing both worlds — before and after — feels like a privilege, but also a loss.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Is the public version of you the real you?
Absolutely. I can’t pretend to be someone I’m not. I don’t try to project an image that doesn’t feel authentic to me. Who I am is who people see when they interact with me, both online and offline.
That said, I believe having different personas in life — especially in business — is perfectly fine. In fact, it’s part of my profession. I don’t just brand companies; I also help individuals shape their public image. Sometimes adopting a different public version of yourself can have a huge positive impact, if it’s done with intention and managed properly.
For me, though, I’m not that person. And not being that person is exactly what makes me, me.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
Yes. For me, it’s not about praise. It’s a personality trait, a mentality.
I give my best even in the smallest things. If I change the toilet paper, I make sure it’s placed properly. If I prepare my son’s lunch box, I organize everything neatly, wipe away a tiny spill so his hands stay clean, and add a little surprise, like a cookie, just to brighten his day.
I carry the same mentality into my work. Even if I’m designing something as simple as a flyer, I make sure there are no imperfections, not even the ones no one else would ever notice. It’s not an unhealthy obsession that makes me get lost in details, waste precious hours, or risk missing a deadline. For me, it’s all about self-respect. If I were to intentionally skip something, thinking no one would notice, I wouldn’t be able to sleep at night. I respect my craft as much as I respect my clients.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ozankarakoc.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ozan_karakoc
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ozankarakoc/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ozankarakocdesign
- Other: https://www.behance.net/ozankarakoc
https://medium.com/@ozankarakocdesign
