We craft digital interfaces that feel like they belong to their city.
Crexaro is a web design studio based in Halkalı, Istanbul. We blend industrial heritage with digital precision to build systems, not just screens.
Start a ConversationOur Method Note: The 70/30 Rule
We maintain a 70% local Turkish client base and 30% international projects. This is a structural constraint, not a marketing claim. It keeps our work grounded in local user behavior (e.g., mobile-first usage patterns, local payment integrations) while forcing us to translate those insights into globally understood design systems.
- What changes our view: A portfolio that demonstrates fluency in cross-cultural UX patterns without generic localization.
- Anchor: Our lead strategist, Elif Kaya, holds a degree in Cultural Anthropology—research isn't an afterthought.
- Trade-off: We decline projects that require rapid scaling of our physical studio headcount. We prioritize depth over breadth.
Failure Modes We Design Around
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The 'Platform-First' Trap
Building for iOS conventions on a Turkish e-commerce app where Android dominates. We mitigate this with device analytics before wireframing.
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Asset Hell
Handing over 200 unlabeled JPEGs. We deliver component libraries in Figma with logical naming (not 'Component 1').
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Scope Creep by Hope
Adding features because 'maybe a user will need it.' We tie every request back to the initial discovery metrics.
A Warehouse in Halkalı, a Library of Contexts
Founded in 2018, our studio is housed in a converted warehouse in Küçükçekmece. The exposed brick and industrial ceiling aren't just aesthetic choices; they're functional ones. The high ceilings house our "Research Wall"—a physical archive of mood boards, fabric swatches, and cultural references pinned up by clients. This tangible space bridges the abstract nature of digital work with the physical texture of Istanbul.
Our address, Dereboyu Cd., translates to "Avenue of the Tree Line." It's a reminder that growth, like the trees outside our window, is organic. A website isn't launched; it's nurtured. We build systems that adapt, not rigid pages that break.
"We don't design for a generic 'user.' We design for someone navigating the specific cultural and functional context of their city."
Client boards from 2018-2024
Our Decision Lens
How we evaluate projects and what we optimize for. This is the criteria we apply to every potential collaboration.
We Optimize For
- • System coherence over one-off beauty
- • Performance & accessibility scores
- • Long-term maintainability
- • Client's internal team enablement
We Sacrifice For
- • Trendy micro-interactions that hurt load times
- • "Pixel-perfect" replication across all devices
- • Features that don't tie to a business KPI
- • The novelty of using every new tool
Our Non-Negotiables
- • Clarity of the proposal & deliverables
- • Direct access to senior talent (not just account managers)
- • A documented design system handoff
- • A post-launch optimization phase
The Minds Behind the Work
A small, senior team ensures quality at every stage. No account managers. No juniors on your project.
Elif Kaya
Founder & Creative Director
"Good design is a quiet conversation between the product and its user."
Can Yılmaz
Lead UX Engineer
"The best interface is the one you don't notice. It just works."
Ayşe Demir
UI/Visual Designer
"Color is emotion. I map brand feelings to specific hex codes."
Mert Şahin
Project Manager
"Clarity in communication prevents chaos in execution."
The Core Proposition
1. We are Systems Thinkers
You get a design system, not just a mockup. This scales your product and reduces technical debt.
2. Context is Our Compass
Our 70/30 ratio keeps our designs grounded in real user behavior, not abstract trends.
3. We Are Partners, Not Vendors
Direct access to our senior team means transparent communication and shared ownership of results.
Our Toolkit: Beyond the Obvious
Design & Strategy
- Figma with Variables & Advanced Prototyping
- FigJam for collaborative workshops
- Maze for unmoderated usability testing
- Custom Notion Templates for structured briefs
Handoff & Documentation
- Zeroheight for live design system docs
- Storybook for component libraries
- Git Commit Conventions for frontend alignment
Our Philosophy in Practice
We avoid the "pixel-perfect" handoff myth. Instead, we deliver "component-perfect" systems. This means developers receive a coherent library of reusable parts with clear logic, not a static set of images. It empowers your team to build and iterate long after we've launched.
Our final deliverable isn't a Figma file. It's a living documentation that your team understands and can use.
Ready to see the process in action?
We've mapped our entire client engagement journey, from first workshop to launch. It's transparent, structured, and built for collaboration.
Explore Our Process