We are Birsel + Seck
Ayse Birsel
Ayse (Eye-Shay) Birsel is an award-winning industrial designer known for her human-centered approach and bold creativity. Her work is part of the permanent collection at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and was recognized by The New York Times as one of the 25 Most Defining Pieces of Furniture of the Last 100 Years. Over her career, she has designed hundreds of products—from toilet seats to office systems to concept cars—for global brands including Herman Miller, Knoll, Target, and Toyota.
Named one of Fast Company’s Most Creative People in Business, Ayse received Interior Design Magazine’s Best of Year Product Designer award in 2020. Through her movement, Design the Life You Love, she has helped thousands of people apply her design thinking methodology to transform their lives and work. Ayse is the author of two books: Design the Life You Love and Design the LONG Life You Love.
Bibi Seck
Bibi Seck is a multidisciplinary designer with a background in automotive and industrial design, as well as a deep commitment to design as a tool for cultural and economic impact. During his twelve years at Renault, he led the design of the award-winning Scénic II and Trafic Van. He also designed the F1 Micrograph watch for Tag Heuer, which won the top prize at the Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève. Since co-founding Birsel + Seck in 2004, Bibi has brought his expertise in manufacturing and systems thinking to products for companies like Herman Miller, Hewlett Packard, and Moroso.
Deeply engaged in promoting design in Africa, Bibi curated the exhibit Design 4 People at the 2012 Design Biennial in Dakar and co-founded AfroEats, the international African Food Festival. He designed the Chanel 19M exhibit and furniture in Dakar, Senegal, and was named Guest of Honor at Chanel Le 19M’s Design Parade Toulon in 2023. Bibi has taught at several institutions, including Strate Collège, Université Technologique de Compiègne, and Pratt Institute.
Leah Caplan
VP, DESIGN & PROJECT PLANNING
Lee Iley
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Meltem Parlak
SENIOR INDUSTRIAL DESIGNER
Our Clients
We’ve had the privilege of collaborating with a diverse range of clients—from global Fortune 500 companies to visionary startups and non-profits. Each partnership is a chance to co-create meaningful, human-centered solutions that drive impact across industries.
Our Signature Framework
Deconstruction:Reconstruction™
Developed by Ayse Birsel, Deconstruction:Reconstruction™ (DE:RE) is the connective thread across all of Birsel + Seck’s work—from innovation strategy to Design the X You Love engagements. It powers our ability to collaborate across industries, drawing insights from automotive, consumer goods, furniture, housewares, fashion, and beyond.
DE:RE is a future-forward method grounded in present-day understanding. By breaking down assumptions and systems, we’re able to rebuild with clarity, creativity, and purpose—alongside our clients and end-users.
Over the past eight years, DE:RE has guided the co-design of everything from smart appliances (GE Laundry) to brand blueprints (Tiffany & Co.) to aging experiences (Amazon). It’s more than a process—it’s a mindset for designing what’s next.
