Between January 26 and February 5, the Department of Interior Architecture and Environmental Design (IAED) hosted Karen Stone, adjunct associate professor at the Pratt Institute, and Münire Kırmacı, visiting instructor at the Pratt Institute (New York) and IAED ’01 graduate. Stone and Kırmacı held an intensive workshop with senior students within the scope of IAED 402: Three-Dimensional Design, Form and Space Methodology. They also delivered a lecture to the university.
The two-week workshop focused on abstract three-dimensional design, aiming to enhance students’ creative thinking and spatial exploration skills. Through hands-on exercises using paper as the primary material, students investigated form, structure, balance and spatial relationships, fostering an experimental, process-oriented approach to design. Rather than focusing on final products, the workshop emphasized design thinking, iteration and conceptual development. The workshop outcomes were later presented through student works, reflecting a wide range of creative interpretations and experimental approaches.
In the lecture, delivered on February 3 in the FFB-22 Conference Hall, Stone and Kırmacı shared insights into their academic backgrounds, design methodologies and teaching practices at Pratt Institute. The lecture provided students with a broader perspective on international design education and professional practice. Kırmacı’s experiences highlighted the strong academic ties between Bilkent University and international institutions while serving as an inspiring example for current students.
