Figen Işık

Research Interests

design history, design and culture, material culture studies, sociology of consumption, etnography in design research

Degrees

Ph.D. – ongoing (Sociology)

“From Teldolap to the Refrigerator: Understanding Modern Lifestyle in Turkey Through the Consumption of Household Technology Products”

M.A. (History of Architecture), Middle East Technical University, 1995

“A Study on the Changing Turkish Bathing Culture Under the Western Influences”

B.ID. (Industrial Design), Middle East Technical University, 1991

Educational Practice

ID 122 Origins and Attitudes in Industrial Design I, 1999-2000 Spring to present

ID 221-222 Origins and Attitudes in Industrial Design II-III, 1995-1996 Fall to present

ID 501 Advanced Project Development in Industrial Design, in collaboration with Part-time Inst. Burcu Derer Omay, 2008-2009 Spring to present

ID 401 Industrial Design V, in collaboration with Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mehmet Asatekin, 2000-2001 Fall

ID 521 Cultural Analysis of Design, in collaboration with Prof. Dr. Necdet Teymur, 1998-1999 Fall

ID 301 Industrial Design III, in collaboration with Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mehmet Asatekin, Inst. Cigdem Erbug, 1995-1996 Fall

ID 301-302 Industrial Design II-III, in collaboration with Asst. Prof. Dr. Mehmet Asatekin, Inst. Dr. Hakan Gursu, 1994-1995

ID 221-222 History of Industrial Design I-II, 1993-1995

ID 111 Visual Communication I, in collaboration with Inst. Ali Günöven, 1993-1994 Fall

Course Development 

ID 122, 221, 222 Origins and Attitudes in Industrial Design I, II, III, must courses for the undergraduate program in Industrial Design, METU

ID 713 Material Culture and Consumption in Everyday Life, elective course for the graduate programs in Industrial Design, METU

Publications

Van der Marel, Floris, Figen Işık (2017) Evaluating Glocal Creations from a Capability Perspective: A Case Study on the Philips Chulha, 4T Design and Design History Society Conference: Cross (-) abilities, (paper forthcoming)

Kint Johanna Figen Isik, (2014) Moving Rituals. Re-interpreting Rituals Cross-Culturally, TMC 2014: Edited Volume on Turkish Emigration and Diaspora, Paper 213.

Işık, Figen (2013) “Buzdolabı Hikayeleri” (The Refrigerator Stories), Amargi, Sayı 27, Kış, 2013, pp.: 37-41.

Tönük, Damla, Figen Işık, (2012) Negotiating Identities: The Use of Prayer Beads in Everyday Life in Turkey, Proceedings of 8th International Design and Emotion Conference London 2012  Central Saint Martins College of Art & Design, 11-14 September 2012 Edited by J. Brassett, J. McDonnell & M. Malpass.

Tönük, Damla, Figen Işık, (2011) An Inquiry into Social Aspects of Co-evolution of Objects and Practices: From Prayer Beads to Digital Counters, Proceedings of IASDR 2011 Conference.

Işık Tüneri, Figen (2005) “Dresser’ın Tasarım Devrimi” (Christopher Dresser: A Design Revolution) XXI, n. 30, pp.: 48-50.

Isik, Figen (1998) ‘Reflections on a Set of Representation: Archaic Greek Kouros through the Greek Conception of the World’, in Pearce, M., Tosi, M. (eds.), Papers from the EAA Third Annual Meeting at Ravenna 1997, V. II: Classical and Medieval, BAR International Series 718, 1998, Archeopress: Oxford.

Işık, Figen (1995) ‘Profesyonel Avant-garde!..’, (Professional Avant-garde!) Arredamento Dekorasyon, n.68, pp.67-70.

Professional Practice

Poster for “Kırsal Kadınlara Yönelik Eğitim Semineri Paneli: Söz Sırası” Urfa, November 1996.

Poster for the Conference “Women’s Identities and Roles in the Course of Change” METU, October 1996, in collaboration with Graph. Des. Sepren Tansel;

Consultancy for TSE (Turkish Standards Institute) for the preparation of the Standards of Governmental Buildings’ Furniture, 1995, in collaboration with Assoc. Prof. Dr. Çiğdem Erbuğ and Res. Asst. Canan Ünlü;

Part-Med Polikliniği (Corportae Identity: Emblem, Logo-type, Interior Design) 1991, in collaboration with Arch. Aslıhan Demirtaş;

Administrative Duties

Departmental Coordinator for Erasmus Exchange Student Mobility Program (Undergraduate Program), METU, 2004 to January 2016

Departmental Representative of the Faculty Publication Committee ??-??, 2003-2005

Departmental Representative of the Faculty Archive Committee ??-??

THESES SUPERVISED

Gizem Evcen (cont.) Actions in Food Product Design Considering the Change of Taste Perception of Consumer According to the Shape and Color of Food Product, METU, Ankara.

Van der Marel, Floris (2012) Developing An Impact Evaluation Framework for Product Designers Inspired by the Capability Approach: A Case Study on the Philips Chulha, Unpublished Master’s Thesis, METU & TU/Delft Joint Programme in Interaction in Design: Ankara, Delft.

Tönük, Damla, (2011) The Practice of Counting Prayers: Use of Tespih And Zikirmatik in Everyday Life in Turkey, Unpublished Master’s Thesis, METU: Ankara.

Özçetin, Seda, (2008) The Role and Significance of Design Exhibitions in The History of Industrial Design in Turkey: 1989-2008, Unpublished Master’s Thesis, METU: Ankara.

Toker, Gülen (2008) Understanding and Demonstrating the Contribution of Objects to the Construction of the Idea of Future in Science Fiction Films, Unpublished Master’s Thesis, METU: Ankara.

Karademir Arun, Banu (2007) Analysis of the Narrative Constructed Around Products: A Case Study on Tupperware Products, Unpublished Master’s Thesis, METU: Ankara

PRESENTATIONS

Işık Tüneri, Figen (2007) ‘From Teldolap to the Refrigerator: Understanding Modern Lifestyle in Turkey Through the Consumption of Household Technology Products’, CRTS, Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey.

Işık Tüneri, Figen (2004) ‘Keeping it Full: The Meaning of the Refrigerator for Domestic Consumption and Reproduction in Modern Everyday Life in Turkey’ Unpublished paper in the Fourth International Conference on Design and Emotion, July 12-14, 2004, Ankara, Turkey. (abstract published)

Işık Tüneri, Figen (2004) ‘Cold and Closed: The Refrigerator as the Re/presentation of the Self and the Preservation of Privacy in Modern Everyday Life in Turkey’, Unpublished paper in AHRB Centre for the Study of the Domestic Interior, Royal College of Art Postgraduate Research Day Meeting, Domestic Designs: 1400 to the Present, February 9, 2004, Royal College of Art, London, UK.

Işık Tüneri, Figen (2001) ‘Selling of Mother’s Day: On the Representations of Motherhood Image(s) in Mother’s Day Ads’ Unpublished paper in 2001 Meeting of Women’s Studies Network Association, Gloucester Cheltenham, UK.

ACADEMIC MEETINGS

UTAK 2018, Tasarım ve Umut, member of the organization committee

11-17 June 2007, Seminar on Consumption Theory, CRTS Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey

July 2004, Fourth International Conference on Design and Emotion, July 12-14, 2004, Ankara, Turkey

February 2004, AHRB Centre for the Study of the Domestic Interior, Royal College of Art Postgraduate Research Day Meeting, Domestic Interiors: 1400 to the Present, February 9, 2004, Royal College of Art, London, UK

July 2001, 2001 Meeting of Women’s Studies Network Association, Gloucester Cheltenham, UK

September 1997, EAA (European Association of Archaeologists) Third Annual Meeting, Ravenna, Italy

October 1994, International Product Design Symposium, Middle East Technical University, Faculty of Architecture, Department of Industrial Design, member of the organization committee

REFEREEING

4T, Design and Design History Society Conference: Ethics of (Re)Production, 2016

UTAK, Ulusal Tasarım Araştırmaları Konferansı: Sorumluluk, Bağlam, Deneyim, Tasarım, 2016

5T, Design and Design History Society Conference: Design in Turmoil, 2015

UTAK, Ulusal Tasarım Araştırmaları Konferansı: Eğitim, Araştırma, Meslek ve Sosyal Sorumluluk, 2014

5T, The 9^th Turkish Design History Society Conference: Design/Resistance, 2014

Journal of Faculty of Architecture, 2013

5T, Design and Design History Society Conference, Gender Perspectives in Design: Turkish and Global Context, 2013

ASD, Ambalaj Sanayicileri Derneği, 9. Ambalaj Tasarımı Ulusal Öğrenci Yarışması 2013, ödüllü yarışma jüri üyeliği.

ASD, Ambalaj Sanayicileri Derneği, 6. Ambalaj Tasarımı Ulusal Öğrenci Yarışması 2010, ödüllü yarışma jüri üyeliği.

PROJECT WORK

Tasarımda Kültürel Farklılık. Project funded within the scope of other international institiutions NATO and NFS projects, 1 September 2013 – 1 November 2013, Local Coordinator.

Light Through Culture, Erasmus IP Project in collaboration with TU Eindhoven, Sint Lukas Brussels, 2012

Cultural Differences in Practice, Erasmus IP Project in collaboration with TU Eindhoven, Sint Lukas Brussels, 2013