TOY WORKSHOP BROUGHT HIGH SCHOOL AND UNIVERSITY STUDENTS TOGETHER
Izmir University of Economics (IUE) Vocational School (VS) hosted a “BI’TASARIM VS: From Past to Future” titled conference on 18-19 December 2018 in order to bring together the esteemed representatives of design and building industry and Vocational School students. High school students and university students came together at a toy workshop as part of the event.
On the first day of the two-day event, Bülent Ekuklu, Digital Advisor at Microsoft, Designer Adnan Serbest, WANGAN Interior Architecture Founders Kerem Özerler, Mert Can Uzyıldırım, and Kutay Yorulmaz, KUDEB Stonemasonry Atelier representatives Kadir Ekinci and Çiğdem Şenarslan met with students. On the second day, Elif Aksüt on behalf of Serge Ferrari, and Yaşar Ürük, who delivered closing speech titled, “Izmir: From Past to Future” met with students. The conference addressed the recent developments and current problems in the field of design, the shared and universal language of Construction Technology, Real Estate and Real Estate Management, Interior Design, Furniture and Decoration, and Architectural Restoration programs of IUE Vocational School.
The wooden toys design workshop organized in collaboration with Ananas Woodworking brought university and high school students together. 25 students from IUE Interior Design, and Furniture and Decoration programs guided 25 students from Karabağlar Atatürk Vocational and Technical Anadolu High School and designed wooden toys. High school students, who are specializing in wood design, used natural and ecological materials, and designed toys that develop creativity, strategic thinking, and depth perception. Students, who designed toys just like their grandparents used to design in the past, used balsa wood, which is very lightweight wood used chiefly for making models and rafts.
Wood Designer Altuğ Toprak from Ananas Woodworking gave information to students about wood design and workshop. Students, who paired up in groups, brainstormed and drew their sketches, and created their designs under the guidance of Lecturers Mustafa Baydağ and İlker Yalçın from Furniture and Decoration Program, and Wood Designer Altuğ Toprak. Students, who produced their toy ideas after a teamwork effort, put these ideas into practice by using balsa wood and created models.
