The Forge impact – Atakan Mercan from General Design Project

As the second edition of Forge is about to start, we asked Atakan Mercan of General Design Project to tell us a bit more about what Forge has meant to his business and the way he plans to develop it in the future. 

I have lots of ideas. I like ideas. But they get in the way of practice sometimes. Forge offered a way for me to deal with the flow of ideas and manage my business in an efficient manner. Even a simple voicing of what goes through your head to a roomful of like-minded individuals helps put things into perspective, and Forge did a lot more besides – workshops, one-to-one sessions, network events… I did not know at the time, but I needed all that to organise my thoughts. 

I enjoyed the challenge of crafting the articulation of my ideas into bits that can be understood readily and correctly. It wasn’t easy! Forge professionals pointed me in the right directions.

I also enjoyed the company of fellow entrepreneurs and operators during the workshops and events. Great links “forged”!

I am definitely more focused, even though commercial work does take up a lot of time. I have analysed my work and my thoughts in a way that is more easily manageable – chunks to deal with rather than big obstacles. My one-to-one tutor was adamant – he was excited as I was and we achieved a breakdown and simplification that was necessary for me to go forward. Putting things into perspective and having milestones in place provides a certain relief from the anxiety of not devoting enough time to what really matters. Now I devote little but essential time to my project.

Find out more about Atakan and General Design Project here:
www.generaldesignproject.co.uk

Instagram: @atakanmercan

If you think Forge is the right business support programme for you and you are interested in applying for one of the next editions, please get in touch with Forge Project Manager Carla Pianese – or sign up for our Forge newsletter here