Poster reflecting the spirit of jazz

Gizem Savaş, a student at Izmir University of Economics (IUE), has secured first place in the 23rd Jazz Poster Competition, organized by the Izmir Foundation for Culture, Arts, and Education (IKSEV), with 552 entries from across Turkey. Savaş Reaching the top with a work she developed as part of a course project, utilizing an abstract narrative style, Savaş said, “I focused on designing a poster that attracts attention and reflects the spirit of jazz. It was a piece I truly believed in and felt satisfied with. Reaching the first award of my career has made me very happy.”

After graduating from the IUE Vocational School Graphic Design Program with a high GPA, Savaş transferred to the Department of Visual Communication Design in the Faculty of Fine Arts and Design. She spent approximately one month preparing for the competition. Noticing that illustration-based designs typically stood out in previous years, Savaş chose a different perspective this time by focusing on abstract concepts. Her efforts to create a simple and memorable design resulted in the top prize. Her work has been selected as the official poster for the 33rd Izmir European Jazz Festival.

“I TRUSTED MYSELF”

Expressing her pride in the achievement, Savaş said, “When producing a design, the biggest test for most people is trusting their own ideas. Because what you put forward is not just a technical task; it is your perspective, your intuition, and your way of perceiving the world. Winning first place in the 23rd Jazz Poster Competition is very meaningful to me. The fact that it was my first award in my career made the feeling even greater.  Jazz has its own rhythm, improvisation, freedom, and surprises. I wanted to capture that spirit through an abstract and simple language.”

“INCREASED MY MOTIVATION FURTHER”

Noting that this success has further boosted her motivation for the future, Savaş said, “I am currently working as a visual design specialist at a private company, balancing my education and professional life. Moving forward, my goal is to make my work more visible, participate in more competitions, strengthen my portfolio, and produce works that carry my own signature in the design world. For me, this victory feels like a ‘beginning’ rather than just a result. I must also emphasize that the education I received at Izmir University of Economics was a decisive factor in this process.”