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Are graphic designers really 'artists' too? Ozan Karakoc reckons so

For Ozan Karakoc, a Los Angeles-based interdisciplinary designer, the way he sees it is that "graphic designers are artists too, but most of the time, what they do cannot be considered as 'art' since their job is all about thinking strategically, telling stories, solving problems and convincing audiences."

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Collage artwork by Ozan Karakoc featuring a black and white vintage photograph of a woman's profile overlaid with bold geometric shapes in blue, yellow, white and red, with paint splatter effects

He tells us that even though he finds that process "fascinating" and says he's "absolutely in love with creative branding," sometimes he hankers after the freedom that comes of working without any "boundaries, strategies or maybe even meaning."

He adds: "I believe that those are the rare moments when we, designers, can borrow the title 'artist’."

His latest series of collage works is a reflection of his art-dabbling and comprises eight compositions created using various materials including photographs he has taken himself, licensed stock images, pieces cut from magazines, and acrylic paint brush strokes. "This time, no strategy, no boundaries, no rules, no meaning. This time, art is for art’s sake," he says.

When he's not making collages, Karakoc works for brands such as Fox Sports, Sony Pictures, Carlsberg, Pepsi, FIBA, Mucinex, Godiva and Hilton, across branding, motion picture advertising, UI/UX design and more.

He's also the founder of Bak Magazine, and a member of AIGA.

Collage artwork by Ozan Karakoc featuring a profile silhouette in black overlaid with red, white and blue geometric shapes and photographic fragments on a light background
Layered collage artwork featuring a monochrome portrait of a woman's face overlaid with coral red paint strokes, architectural fragments, and a silhouette of a person walking along a dark treeline
Ozan Karakoc's collage artwork with rotated text reading "Fine Art" in orange, combining photographs, magazine cutouts and painted elements on black background
Layered collage artwork featuring a profile silhouette combined with an orange car, map fragments, and blue and red geometric shapes on a neutral background
Abstract collage artwork by Ozan Karakoc featuring layered photographs, teal and black paint strokes, and torn magazine pieces depicting a snowy mountainous landscape with figures
Framed abstract collage with red, blue and black geometric shapes, photographic elements and brushstrokes on a dark background surrounded by similar artistic compositions
Framed abstract collage artwork with black and white photographic elements, orange curved lines and textured details against dark background with partial text overlay
Abstract collage artwork by Ozan Karakoc featuring fragmented photographs, red and white paint strokes, and geometric shapes arranged within a black frame against a dark background
Abstract collage artwork by Ozan Karakoc featuring geometric shapes in blue, orange and white with silhouetted figures against a dark background
Framed abstract collage artwork featuring a silhouetted figure with the number three, overlaid with red and blue brushstrokes, surrounded by decorative blue curved shapes on a dark background
Framed collage artwork by Ozan Karakoc featuring abstract blue, black, white and yellow elements with layered photographs and paint strokes, displayed against a dark background with partial text visible on either side
Collage artwork by Ozan Karakoc combining a black and white profile of a man's face and neck with red and black geometric shapes, textured elements and the number 2
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