I am a design researcher working at the intersection of design, innovation, business models, and the societal aspects of sustainability and design education. My work is driven by a commitment to advancing sustainable solutions through design.

I hold an undergraduate degree in Industrial Engineering and completed a dual Master’s in Industrial Design and Manufacturing at Dortmund Technical University and the University of Twente. My Master’s thesis explored the role of communication in complex product development processes, in collaboration with Munich Technical University and Audi AG. I earned my Ph.D. in Industrial Design from Istanbul Technical University, with a thesis titled “Investigating Design for Social Innovation Through Business Models in Rural India: A Model Proposal for Developing Countries.”

Since 2010, I have taught a wide range of undergraduate and graduate courses on product, service, and systems design. My teaching experience includes coordinating sustainability-themed product design studios at various levels, often in collaboration with industrial and social organizations. I have developed and delivered courses in areas such as strategic design, sustainability in design, design innovation and product development, design research, materials and manufacturing techniques, systems thinking in design, and design for social innovation.

Key achievements:

• In 2018, I coordinated the establishment of the City and Children Studies MA program at Kadir Has University, in collaboration with national and international partners, including the Bernard van Leer Foundation, Superpool Architecture, and local municipalities of Istanbul.
• From 2016 to 2020, I led the Design for Social Innovation and Strategic Design tracks in the Design MA program.
• Since 2020, I have been at Istanbul University the oldest and largest public university in Türkiye, where I contributed to the establishment of the Industrial Design undergraduate program, which welcomed its first cohort in 2023.

Currently, I am engaged in research and teaching in design for repair, circular design, and eco-social innovation. My future research will focus on:

• Designing for the circular economy and developing product-service systems for industries.
• Investigating the social aspects of sustainability transitions, particularly within urban contexts.
• Exploring opportunities to leverage design education in addressing future sustainability challenges.

By combining these areas of focus, I aim to further contribute to the development of innovative and socially impactful design solutions.