This summer, Otto Tiles & Design is celebrating 10 years of tile innovation with the launch of Kismet – its most sustainable collection to date. To mark the occassion, enki sits down with founder Damla Turgut to look back on the last decade.
For Damla Turgut, founder of Otto Tiles & Design, tiles are more than just an aesthetic addition for a space – they’re a vessel for stories. “Every Otto tile starts with a story, be it a historical reference, a place, a memory,” confirms the entrepreneur. And the anniversary collection, Kismet, is no different. Honouring the ancient Anatolian site of Çatalhöyük (one of the world’s earliest urban settlements), the three contemporary designs navigate themes of feminine energy, symbolism and sacred space.
Setting a new standard for sustainability, Kismet has also been developed for Otto’s next-generation slimline tile format. These are lighter, thinner tiles crafted in an eco-cement which works to reduce carbon footprint without impeding on durability and the vibrancy of the design.
To commemorate this impressive 10 year milestone, Otto Tiles will also be donating a percentage of proceeds from every square metre of the Kismet collection sold to the Malala Fund, supporting girls’ education globally.
With the birthday celebrations pending, we sat down with founder Damla Turgut to look back at her journey over the last 10 years while digging into the details of Kismet and grabbing some top tips from the tile expert herself…
A chat with Damla Turgut…
Congrats on 10 years of Otto Tiles! You’re celebrating with the launch of the Kismet, can you tell us more about this?
Kismet is a celebration, not just of ten years in business, but of the creative and cultural journey we’ve taken as a brand. I wanted the collection to feel optimistic, characterful, and contemporary, but still grounded in the traditions that have shaped us. The shapes are bold, the colours confident, but there’s a quiet sense of familiarity in the details. The name means fate or destiny, which felt right, a nod to the role that timing, instinct, and chance have played in shaping the Otto story so far.
What makes Kismet tiles more sustainable than your other offerings?
Kismet is our first slimline tile collection which uses a new and advanced cement composition (reinforced with microfibres) to allow the tiles to be made thinner and lighter without compromising on strength and durability. It involved a significant research and development process for the brand, and it was important that the traditional handmade process was retained whilst innovating to create a more environmentally conscious product.
Since they are thinner and lighter, we can ship more tiles in one shipment which allows for a reduced carbon footprint. By consuming less raw materials, energy and water in the production process, the range is also more sustainable. The new material composition also means that there is a better colour pay off in comparison to the Signature range, so you’ll see a more saturated depth and tone for the slimline designs.
What should conscious consumers be looking for in a tile if sustainability is at the top of their priority list?
I’d say ask questions: Where was it made? What is it made from? Who made it? How far has it travelled? Sustainable tile choices are rarely the cheapest or most convenient, but they are the ones that hold meaning, last longer, and support real craftsmanship. Avoid synthetic finishes, and steer away from anything overly trend-driven or mass-produced. Also consider scale, sometimes choosing a smaller, higher quality feature can be more impactful than tiling an entire space with something generic.
What is it you love about tile design in particular?
Tiles are architectural, yes, but they also have the potential to be deeply expressive. I love that they can be permanent, laid once and lived with for decades, but also incredibly personal. A single tile can carry so much: history, geography, technique, emotion. Unlike many surface materials, tiles are made by hand, touched by people, fired, cured, glazed. There’s something ancient and grounding about that process.
Right, let’s go back to day one. What’s the story behind Otto Tiles & Design?
At the beginning, there was no grand plan. Otto Tiles came from a desire to be creative. I studied law in London, but it wasn’t until I returned to Turkey in 2013 and started helping my father with his tile export business that the seed for Otto was planted. At that time, we were sourcing generic, mass-produced tiles and I couldn’t understand why everything looked so flat and characterless. I started asking questions and exploring older techniques.
A trip to an expo in Nairobi was the turning point. I realised there was an opportunity to create something bolder, more colourful, more exciting, and tiles that carried both a cultural weight and design integrity. My brother and I then started Otto in Istanbul in 2014, and I moved to London the following year to launch Otto Tiles & Design. Since then, we’ve grown slowly and intentionally, always led by the craft. We now have three showrooms in London, Miami and Istanbul.
How did you find transitioning from the law world into a creative space?
At first, it felt like I was living in two completely different worlds. Law gave me structure, logic, and the ability to think critically, all of which are useful when running a business. But design lit something else up in me. I’ve always had a strong emotional response to materials, to colour, to spaces. That pull was impossible to ignore. The transition was gradual rather than overnight, but it became clear very quickly that I was much happier working in a creative environment. Once I started collaborating with artisans and developing tiles that had depth and narrative, I knew I’d found something that aligned with who I really am.
What makes Otto Tiles different to other brands out there?
I think it’s the combination of emotional intent and material integrity. Every Otto tile starts with a story, be it a historical reference, a place, a memory. We’re not chasing trends; we’re thinking about what will still feel relevant in ten or twenty years. Our pieces are made in small batches by independent makers, and we embrace the imperfections that come with traditional processes. That’s what gives them life. They’re not sterile. They’re full of nuance and texture and tone…the kinds of things that elevate a space beyond just the visual.
Where do you produce your tiles?
We produce across a network of specialist workshops in Turkey, Morocco, Italy and Vietnam. Each workshop has its own area of expertise – zellige, cement, terrazzo, marble – and we work closely with them to ensure every detail feels right. Every pattern, glaze and pigment is tested and refined. It’s a slower process than industrial manufacturing, but that’s intentional. It allows for better control, more collaboration, and ultimately a better product.
Is there a material palette you lean into?
It depends on the collection, but we tend to work with clay, cement, natural pigments, marble and stone. Most materials are sourced locally to where the tiles are produced – for example, our Moroccan zellige is made from clay extracted just outside Fez, while our marble tiles are created in Italy close to where the marble is quarried. It’s important to us that we’re not shipping raw materials unnecessarily. Local sourcing supports regional economies and makes each tile more authentic to its place of origin.
What is your top tip for anyone who is currently considering tiles for their home?
Be intentional. Tiles have the power to define a space, so treat them as more than a backdrop. Think about how light moves through the room, how you want the space to feel, and what kind of texture or tone would enhance that experience. Also don’t be afraid of using tiles in unexpected places: wrapping a cloakroom floor-to-ceiling, tiling the sides of a kitchen island, or using them as a headboard feature in a bedroom. They don’t have to be functional only, they can be incredibly expressive too.
Where do you see Otto Tiles & Design in another ten years from now?
I hope we continue to grow in a way that feels meaningful. We’d love to expand further in the US and Europe, but only if we can maintain the same level of care and connection we have with our makers and clients now. I’d like to explore new materials, deepen our sustainability efforts and build more creative collaborations – both with designers and with other disciplines. Above all, I hope Otto remains a brand that people trust for its integrity, commitment to craft, and design that stands the test of time.
Quick-fire questions…
Your go-to drink order? Ice shaken americano
A hotel would you stay in again? Cipriani in Venice
Which restaurant are you booking a reservation for? Loring Place Manhattan
A podcast we must listen to? Joe Dispenza – Jay Shetty
The book that changed your life? Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown
Something on your bucket-list? Burning Man
What do you love most about your home? The amazing view – I live in Miami and my condo looks out across the water
An architect or designer you look up to? I love JAM from NYC
How do you like to connect with nature? I have to connect on a daily basis, if in Miami, I go to the beach, if in NYC or London I go to the park
Your favourite design from Otto Tiles & Design? Bodrum Beach – Sunrise in Bodrum and Beige combo
Kismet launches this July. To discover the full design suite from Otto Tiles in the meantime, click here.
Or for more Meet the Maker interviews with enki, click here.
