Murathan Biliktü

Murathan Biliktü

Designer (Product & Typeface) in Toronto, He/They/Him

About

UX Designer with Masters in Inclusive Design and Type Designer, helping design to be inclusive and businesses to create valuable products.

Work Experience

2024 — Now
Toronto
  • Introduced new design system ideas and spearheaded the new design system logic.

  • Bridged the gap with developers through turning long weekly meetings into 1-on-1 quick DQA sessions.

  • Built a repository to deliver design tokens and assets, this resulted in quicker and more direct handoffs.

  • Worked on TV, Mobile, Web platforms with my talented teammates.

  • Made great connections and truly understood how communication is the most important part of the job.

  • Will update...

2020 — Now

• Launched an independent typeface foundry that has released 12 typefaces and garnered over 2,000 sales.
• Featured on It's Nice That, Print Magazine, and PAGE Magazine.
• Collaborated with artists and creative agencies from across the globe to create custom logos and typefaces that accurately represented their brand.

2019 — 2022
Toronto

• Successfully managed a team of designers to create various in-house design projects.
• Managed client relationships by communicating effectively to understand project scope and deliverables.
• Successfully completed projects within budget and timeline constraints.

2021 — 2021
Bursa

• Worked closely with the developer team to design the internal accounting/ inventory software they were developing.
• Designed and implemented a new UI element to solve a critical issue, resulting in significant cost savings for the company.
• Managed to design a solution within the given budget and timeframe while still achieving the primary goal of reducing software costs.

2019 — 2020

• Worked with cross-functional teams to find the best solution for UX while always considering the feasibility and business goals.
• Conducted research to understand user needs and pain points in order to design prototypes that provided an optimal solution for the user.
• Designed a web-based version of the B2B Heali app from the ground up, which resulted in more new customers and potential revenue growth.

Projects

2024

Introducing BM Alaric – a vibrant and distinctive typeface inspired by the elegance of Herb Lubalin’s and Tony Di Spigna’s Serif Gothic, yet reimagined with a funky and playful way. BM Alaric is perfect for music artists, cafes, product branding, and any creative project you envision.​​​​​​​

Purchase Here (59.99$)

2023
  • Developed Board, addressing the need for a creative community platform in Toronto.

  • Implemented strategic invite-only launch, balancing user experience with market demands.

  • Navigated multiple roles, from technical problem-solving to user engagement and marketing.

2022

I was frustrated because I needed to jot down my daily tasks somewhere, but all the to-do/task management apps I tried never worked for me. So, rather than adapting to the apps, I simply created my own.

2021

BM Arbeiter Neue font family is inspired by the history of the diaspora of guest workers to Germany in the 1960s. Arbeiter Neue incorporates a variety of forms that are influenced by machinery, pipes, and wires. Arbeiter Neue comes in 5 different styles: Regular, Text, Mono and two unique styles; Fett and Abstrakt.

The most unique style in this font family is Arbeiter Neue Abstrakt and it was created in such a way that it seems virtually unreadable and "alien." It's the German signs in the eyes of the guest workers and the cramped town constructed of pipes and cables that they live in.

2020

Erkin is a contemporary variable typeface influenced by 1960s psychedelic rock. It was named after a great artist known as "Erkin Koray." The goal was to create a wacky typeface that would match Erkin Koray's album covers (as well as other generic cover art from the 1960s and 1970s) but could also be utilised in current designs.

2019

Helped the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in presenting important museums under a unified platform.

Through non-intrusive and informative adverts in the app, we encouraged the purchase of annual subscriptions.

Visitors can engage with the artifacts and museums based on their personal interests.

Side Projects

2024

Manipulating my font, BM Kaikura, using @work_louder ‘s Creator Micro, to the beat of ‘Pixar’ by @tyriqueordieand @veggibeats 🔁🔒

2023

For my Ephemera Portraits project, I interviewed Jack Harrison, the brain behind Digital Joy, delving deep into the world of CRT video art! Jack shares his journey, from getting into the field to gaining widespread recognition on TikTok.

2023

Ephemera is an independent publication launched in 2023 by Murathan Biliktü that delves into the world of design, research, user experience, and above all, the realm of video games. My passion lies in understanding how things work, celebrating creativity, and appreciating the artistry behind every project and artwork.

2023

This typeface emerged from my personal curiosity about the events unfolding in the Balkans and Mesopotamia during the late 1800s, With my own personal connections to these regions, I delved into the stories that unfolded. Inspired by the stories of becoming strangers to once-familiar neighbours, of loss and separation, I decided to create lettering that captured their essence which in the end became BM Agia typeface.

Infusing my work with cultural elements, I aim to preserve untold or nearly forgotten stories, keeping them alive through artistic expression. While my message may be subtle, because my intention was to make you curious, I want you to learn it yourself.

Writing

2023

Playing games does not require one to identify as a gamer. I’m not a gamer. I just play lots of video games. There’s absolutely no need to conform to any specific gamer image or lifestyle if it doesn’t resonate with you. We don’t have to decorate our experiences with RGB lighting just to fit in. Gaming is about enjoying the games themselves, not about conforming to a certain style. (If you want a gaming chair or any other accessories, that’s perfectly fine, I just used them as examples.)

Just like watching movies doesn’t automatically turn everyone into film enthusiasts or filmbros, playing games doesn’t require transforming your entire environment or adopting a particular gamer persona. You can simply enjoy a game without feeling the need to label yourself as a “gamer.”

Features

2022

I talked about how my typefaces usually have a cultural backstory and the ideas behind some of the typefaces.

2022

Print Magazine featured Erol Unziale on their Type Tuesday corner.

2022

PAGE asked for the details and the full story behind my Arbeiter Neue typeface. You can find this interview in their 06.2022 issue.

2022

I talked about my background as a designer and how I began designing typefaces.

Education

2021 — 2023
Toronto

• I learned the Inclusive Design Methodologies from the best in the field (e.g. Jutta Treviranus)
• Conducted scientific research from start to finish in the ethical framework of the Research Ethics Board.
• Learned how to use Co-Design sessions to include stakeholders in the design process and design "with" them.

2011 — 2015
Graphic Design & Photography at Necatibey Vocational High School

I learned the fundamentals of graphic design at this vocational high school.

Contact

Website
Instagram
Twitter