Art Suit Student Dorm - Character Design Concept

Project Video:

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Background /
How the project started?

Architect Zehra Sarioglu and her partner Architect Ali Yucesoy, reached out to collaborate on their new student dorm project, Art Suit Istanbul, located near Yeditepe University.

They wanted an artwork concept for the building exterior, something that would give the architecture a unique personality while reflecting the life of students who would inhabit it



Goal / What the project aimed to achieve?

The main goal was to introduce a layer of storytelling and human character to the dormitory facade. Beyond functional architecture, the building needed a visual narrative that would engage residents and visitors alike.

Concept / How the idea developed
After initial discussions and on-site visits, the idea of Enneagram-inspired characters emerged. I wanted the characters to reflect the diversity of personalities found in university life while being visually cohesive with the building.

Initially, I experimented with plant motifs as a unifying element, each character’s head would feature a plant that subtly expressed their personality.

While visually appealing, this approach lacked a narrative depth. I explored character analysis systems and found Enneagram, a model of nine distinct personality types. It offered a conceptual framework that fit the building’s purpose perfectly: representing students in a stage of personal growth and discovery.

Each character’s plant was then carefully chosen to symbolize their Enneagram type, creating both visual connection and storytelling depth.


Here are the 9 Personalities;