Design Factory Project Introduction Meeting

Önder Öztunalı Conference Hall hosted the introductory meeting of the "Design Factory" project organized by Istanbul Kültür University on Wednesday, June 29, 2022, at 13.00 with the support of Istanbul Development Agency (ISTKA) and with the participation of our Chairperson of the Board of Trustees Dr. Bahar Akıngüç Günver, our Rector Prof. Dr. Hanife Öztürk Akkartal, our Advisor to the Board of Trustees Ender Rıza Ekici, our Design Factory Project Academic Coordinator Assist. Prof. Gabriela Oana Olaru and our Advisory Board and Academic Representatives.

The meeting started with our Chairperson of the Board of Trustees, Dr. Bahar Akıngüç’s comments. Dr. Akıngüç Günver said, "The Design Factory is a very powerful instrument for us to achieve our goals. We expect our academic representatives to deposit all their connections and academic knowledge related to the project. We took on the role of planning and facilitating the project. World higher education is going through some changes. The new trend is design and digitization. With the Design Factory project, the design perspectives of young talents will improve. We have internalized the project as Istanbul Kültür University and we believe that the development of our students can be carried to higher levels at the Design Factory."

Expressing that the Design Factory project is a very important step in achieving the goals of our university, our Rector Prof. Dr. Hanife Öztürk Akkartal said, "The most crucial point of the project is that it has a multidisciplinary structure. Together we must complete the project successfully. The Design Factory will be the beginning of very important projects that will come out of our school."

Ender Rıza Ekici, our Advisor to the Board of Trustees, talked about the project process and stated that this concept was created as a result of a dream established in 2018. Ekici said, "We started the Istanbul Kültür University part of this project, which has a limited number of applications in the world. We plan to shed light on the future. We prefer to shape the Design Factory project in the field of creative industries. We aim to differentiate our students in the changing world. We are trying to create a multidisciplinary environment by melting 14 departments and programs in one pot. We have created a project that will support our students in every sense and field in the new world order."

Our Design Factory Project Academic Coordinator Assist. Prof. Gabriela Oana Olaru talked about the process and stages of the project and said, "Digitalization, innovations and new technologies have always been present in our lives. We want to reflect these innovations to the new generation. We are not getting rid of the Kültür Constitution. The main goal of the project is to reach industries and businesses for the Design Factory, which focuses on the creative industries. A valuable door will open for our young talents. We will be happy to see creative entrepreneurs at the Design Factory."