Res. Assist. Sümeyye Şimşekler
Biography
I received my undergraduate degree in Industrial Design from Middle East Technical University (METU) in 2019 and completed my Master’s degree in Industrial Design at METU in 2024. Supervised by Prof. Dr. Owain Pedgley, with Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yekta Bakırlıoğlu as co-advisor, my master’s thesis investigated how service design strategies shape brand perception and user experience in complex digital service systems, particularly super apps. Since February 2022, I have been working as a Research Assistant at the Department of Industrial Design at METU. My academic work combines research-driven design education with practice-based methodologies, interdisciplinary collaboration, and industry-applicable educational models.
Research Interests
Brand Perception and Brand Experience
User Experience (UX) and Service Design
Digital Products and Platform-Based Services
Education
M.Sc. in Industrial Design, Middle East Technical University, 2024
“The Effects of Service Design on Super App Brand Perception and User Experience”
B.Sc. in Industrial Design, Middle East Technical University, 2019
Educational Practices
ID211 Design Communication
ID221 History of Industrial Design
ID233 Structures
ID313 Interactive Multimedia Design I
ID314 Interactive Multimedia Design II
ID401 Industrial Design V
ID402 Graduation Projects
ID415 UX for Special User Groups
ID480 Design Management
Projects & Consultancy
BAP Research Project (METU) - Toolkit Design for Children’s Toy Repair and Personalization
Research team member in a university-funded BAP project conducted with Prof. Dr. Çağla Doğan and Res. Asst. Ezgi Özkürkçü Özbudak. The project focuses on designing a repair and customization toolkit that enables children to extend the lifespan of their toys, fostering sustainability, emotional attachment, and creative engagement. The project is carried out in collaboration with METU GVO, involving participatory workshops, user research with children, and iterative prototyping process.
Digital Product School (DPS) Turkey Adaptation – A certification Program Originally based in Munchen, Germany
Interaction Designer and design consultant in the adaptation of the Munich-based Digital Product School (DPS) program to Turkey. Worked within interdisciplinary teams to develop digital products in collaboration with industry partners including Onedio, Ankara Otomat, and METU Technokent in the first batch. The role involved facilitating design processes, conducting workshop, mentoring teams on user experience and interaction design, and supporting industry academia collaboration models.
Academic Activities
Conferences
Şener-Pedgley, B., Usta, C., & Şimşekler, S. (2025). What Uni? METU Department of Industrial Design.Presented at E&PDE: 27th International Conference on Engineering and Product Design Education, Valletta, Malta.
Hasdoğan, G. F., Korkut, F., Börekçi, N. A. G. Z., Öztürk Şengül, M., Usta, C., Dursun Uğraş, M., Şimşekler, S., Özcan, Ş. Z. (2024). UTAK 2024 – Sixth National Design Research Conference. Scientific Conference / Symposium Organization, Ankara, Türkiye, September 2024.
Şimşekler, S., Dönertaş, E., Coşkun, A. E., Bakırlıoğlu, Y., & Yetiş, E. Ö. (2021). Enhancing the social relationships in women communities at Çankaya, Ankara by service design interventions for contribution to women empowerment in society. 4T Design and Design History Symposium – “Who Cares?”, Turkey.
Workshops & Exibitions
Şimşekler, S. (2025). Branding Workshop. Workshop Organization (conducted within the Digital Product School – DPS program), METU Technokent, Ankara, Türkiye, November 2025.
Börekçi, N. A. G. Z., Korkut, F., Hoşgün Soylu, M., Güngör Boncukçu, I., Gönenç Özkan, B., Düzakın, E., Usta, C., Şimşekler, S., Doğanay, D. (2025). METU Department of Industrial Design Graduation Projects Exhibition 2024. Artistic Activity Organization, Ankara, Türkiye, June 2025.
Börekçi, N. A. G. Z., Korkut, F., Hoşgün Soylu, M., Güngör Boncukçu, I., Usta, C., Şimşekler, S. (2024). METU Department of Industrial Design Graduation Projects Exhibition 2024. Artistic Activity Organization, Ankara, Türkiye, June 2024.
Şener-Pedgley, B., Şimşekler, S. (2023). Design Days – 2: Toy Design Workshop. Workshop Organization, Ankara, Türkiye, April 2023.
Börekçi, N. A. G. Z., Korkut, F., Günöven, A., Hoşgün Soylu, M., Özgürlük, M. E., Şimşekler, S., Zafer, O. B. (2023). METU Department of Industrial Design Graduation Projects Exhibition 2023. Artistic Activity Organization, Ankara, Türkiye, June 2023.
Project Catalogues
Korkut, F., Börekçi, N. A. G. Z., Usta, C., Doğanay, D., Şimşekler, S. (2025). METU Department of Industrial Design Graduation Projects Catalogue 2025. Other Publication, pp. 1–188.
Börekçi, N. A. G. Z., Korkut, F., Hoşgün Soylu, M., Güngör Boncukçu, I., Usta, C., Şimşekler, S. (2024). METU Department of Industrial Design Graduation Projects Catalogue 2024. Other Publication.
Börekçi, N. A. G. Z., Korkut, F., Günöven, A., Hoşgün Soylu, M., Özgürlük, M. E., Şimşekler, S., Zafer, O. B. (2023). METU Department of Industrial Design Graduation Projects Catalogue 2023. Other Publication.