IUE shines at Italian design event

Izmir University of Economics (IUE) Faculty of Fine Arts and Design successfully represented Turkey at the ‘Italian Design Agorà 2025’ event in Matera, Italy. A protocol was signed between IUE and the Istituto Del Design-Matera to strengthen academic cooperation within the event aimed to promote the internationalization of art and design education. The agreement establishes a long-term international partnership that includes student and academic staff exchanges, joint projects, and cultural events.

IUE made a strong impression at the event, which was hosted by the Istituto Del Design-Matera, one of Italy's leading higher education and design institutions. IUE's presentations and talks, delivered by IUE academics and students, received significant interest from attendees at the event, which featured open-air exhibitions, conferences, and panels.

“LANGUAGE IS NOT JUST A COMMUNICATION TOOL”

Lecturer Buket Kasalı, Academic Coordinator of the Italian Language Department at the IUE School of Foreign Languages, led the collaboration project. In her presentation, she focused on the role of language in intercultural communication and design education. She emphasized that language is not merely a tool for communication but a strategic element that provides access to cultural codes and design practices. Kasalı highlighted the value that multilingual approaches bring to global design education.

‘DESIGN THROUGH NARRATIVES’

Asst. Prof. Dr. Ali Aslankan, Vice Dean, delivered a presentation titled ‘Design through Narratives’, which showcased the outcomes of a graduate design studio at IUE. The presentation demonstrated how space can play an active role in storytelling and meaning production. It featured design work that focused on user experience, identity, and emotions through students' field research on narratively rich examples like films, places, and objects. Aslankan stated that the students positioned design as a narrative tool for creating meaningful and sensory experiences.

THE EMPHASIS ON ‘ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE’

In her presentation, Prof. Dr. Ender Bulgun, Dean of IUE Faculty of Fine Arts and Design, shared the faculty's academic vision and internationalization efforts. She discussed topics such as the faculty's participation in international networks, joint projects, and student and faculty mobility. Regarding current trends in design education, Prof. Dr. Bulgun pointed out that interdisciplinary learning, the integration of digital design tools, AI-supported creative processes, and socially impactful projects have become fundamental components of education. Prof. Dr. Bulgun also highlighted the faculty's growing influence through recent research projects, design registrations, committee work, and active roles in national and international organizations. She stressed the critical role of international academic collaborations in this development.

STUDENT PROJECTS WERE HIGHLY PRAISED

Students from the Visual Communication Design and Interior Architecture and Environmental Design programs at IUE presented projects they developed during an exhibition setup workshop at the Istituto Del Design-Matera. The students' creative and innovative work was very well received by event participants. By successfully representing both Turkey and Turkish design education, Izmir University of Economics has taken a significant step in the fields of academic diplomacy and cultural cooperation.