WORDS OF FOUNDER
Designing a Resilient and
Eco-Friendly Tomorrow.
I see architecture as a means. A means to enhance the human experience. I think of structures as places where humans experience emotion, where they achieve creative breakthroughs, and where they save lives and comfort one another.
Our practice stems from the belief that the built environment is a living, breathing entity with the ability to express emotion and intimately engage with its surroundings.
Our responsibility is both inspiring and humbling: to create a positive, lasting impact through design. We value empathy and embrace the hard work that leads to innovation.
Our goal is to create a company and culture where everyone—employees and clients—can do the best work of their lives.
Our philosophy is how we can make it happen.
Our motivation is the endless effort to grow and to succeed in our field.
Ali S. Balaban
Founder of SDG
ABOUT THE FOUNDER
Before devoting his work full-time to Smart Development Group, Ali spent more than two decades working in marketing for multimillion- dollar brands and startups in the USA, Germany, Turkey, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Greece.
Ali has also taught international organizations at Bogazici University, Istanbul, Turkey, and marketing management and monetary theories at Wisconsin University WIUU, Kyiv, Ukraine, for six years.
Ali holds a BA and an MBA in business administration from the Paul Valéry University, Montpellier III, and an International Business degree from the University of California Los Angeles.
Ali received a certificate of achievement from Stanford University for the Venture Capital Unlocked program in August 2019.