Alumni Spotlight: Emine Canak (M.Arch. '16)
July 10, 2025
above: Images of emine canak's work for Bloom and Bean Coffee
Name: Emine Canak
Hometown: Kadirli, Turkey
Major: Master of Architecture
Graduation Year: 2016
Employer: E Plus Interiors
Title: Founder, Principal Designer
"One of my favorite campus memories is the excitement of starting a new semester and diving into a fresh project. While spending time on campus, I loved sketching people and trees outdoors and often brought those hand drawings into my elevation drawings and collages."
Why did you choose the Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design? What drew you to design?
With a background in interior architecture and environmental design, I have always been passionate about how spaces shape human experiences and how light, material, and layout influence how we feel. My design journey has focused on creating soulful, functional interiors, and over time, I became curious about the architectural elements behind them.
Receiving a government scholarship for my master’s degree allowed me to explore this further. The Hines College, with its creative energy and connection to Houston, was the perfect fit. The NAAB-accredited program gave me confidence in pursuing licensure and professional practice.
What is one of your favorite memories from your time on campus? Was there a particular professor who influenced your education?
One of my favorite campus memories is the excitement of starting a new semester and diving into a fresh project. While spending time on campus, I loved sketching people and trees outdoors and often brought those hand drawings into my elevation drawings and collages. Blending sketches with renderings became my favorite way to express design ideas and imagine the user experience early on.
I was especially inspired by professor Marta Rodriguez, with whom I later worked on a Europan-Europe Competition project. Her creativity, passion, and energy taught me so much, and her studio felt like a creative retreat, complete with fresh fruit, coffee, and lots of conceptual models.
I am also grateful for the support and encouragement I received as an international student from professors like Dietmar Froehlich, Shafik Rifaat, Drexel Turner, and Stephen Fox. They were always supportive and approachable.
above: Two Images from canak's "Flat no. 5" project; a photo of the award-winning "The Clinic for Plastic Surgery" project
Tell us about a typical day in your job. Do you have a particular design or business philosophy?
As the founder of E Plus Interiors, my days are a mix of creativity and connection. I regularly attend networking and entrepreneur events to grow the business and stay inspired. When a new project comes in, I start with discovery, learning about the client’s needs, then move into concept development, always balancing creativity with budget. Site visits, sourcing materials, and even shopping for clients are part of the process.
I also had the opportunity to teach ARCH 2500 at the Hines College during the fall 2024 semester and look forward to teaching again when I have a bit more structure in my schedule and the time to commit.
My design philosophy is to create soulful, thoughtful spaces reflecting my clients while staying within their means.
What is one career accomplishment of which you are particularly proud? How do you feel the College prepared you for this?
I am proud of “The Clinic for Plastic Surgery” project, which won second prize in the Interiors: Healthcare/Wellness category at the 2022 Rethinking the Future Awards, during my time with the Browne McGregor Architects team. The Hines College helped prepare me with a strong foundation in creative and technical design, allowing me to meaningfully contribute.
What advice would you give to current architecture and design students?
Go beyond studio walls, socialize, attend events, and connect with creative minds. Design is how you see and respond to the world. Be brave, stay curious, and seek experiences that expand your perspective. Trust your inner voice, follow your unique path, and keep sketching, ideas, life, and everything in between.
More Hines College Stories
Take a seat — the winners of the annual SIT Furniture Design Awards include four industrial design students from the Hines College! Camila Campos, Mary Leath, and Diya Suresh Nair were part of associate professor and industrial design co-director Jeff Feng’s INDS 3500 studio. Rachel Feine (M.S. ’25) entered the competition independently, wanting to explore playful, modular design in furniture to foster imaginative play.
What began as a classroom exploration in advanced UX design has quickly evolved into an internationally recognized achievement for the Hines College. Red Dot announced that NOMAD, a groundbreaking AI-powered, screen-free hiking system by recent industrial design graduate Varshini Chouthri, has been awarded the prestigious recognition of Red Dot’s “Best of the Best,” placing it among the top design innovations worldwide.
Industrial design students at the University of Houston Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design have broken their own record in this year’s international FIT Sport Design Awards. Nine students won a total of twelve awards, up from six students and awards in 2023. The annual competition calls for both professional and student work, shining a spotlight on designs that are innovative, performance-enhancing, sustainable, and accessible.
