Inst. Figen Işık
Biography
Graduated with B.ID degree from Industrial Design, METU in 1991. Obtained MA degree from History of Architecture, METU in 1995. Continuing doctoral studies in Sociology, METU. Attended the University of Michigan as a visiting scholar in 2003 in sociology and anthropology. Served as a referee in 4T, 5T International Design History conferences, and UTAK (National Design Research Conference) conferences several times. Member of ETMK (Endüstriyel Tasarımcılar Meslek Kuruluşu, Society of Industrial Designers, Turkey).Positions design as an element of material culture and consumption, approaches its analysis within the perspective of material culture and consumption studies considering products and their design as the generator and agency of everyday practices, thus teaches courses and supervised MSc. theses within this perspective.Areas of academic interest are history of industrial design, material culture studies, sociology of material culture and consumption.
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 9th 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