Üsküdar University Faculty of Communication continues to bring industry professionals together with students. In this context, the Visual Communication Design department held the event titled ‘Looking at Turkish Design History and Branding in its 100th Year’. At the event, attended by Graphic Designer İlhan Bilge and Artist Mehmet Dere, design and branding since the establishment of the Republic were discussed.
The event, moderated by Head of Visual Communication Design Department Prof. Dr. And Algül, was held at Üsküdar University South Campus Fuat Sezgin Conference Hall.
The event, held within the scope of the University Culture course, was met with great interest by communication students.
Prof. Dr. And Algül: “Ensuring its transfer to future generations is our greatest endeavor”
Prof. Dr. And Algül, Head of the Visual Communication Design Department, who delivered the opening speech of the event, said: “It is important for all of us to achieve development by transferring past experiences to new generations and recording the memory related to the field, and to better convey the future through the values we hold today. We have gathered within the scope of the panel titled ‘Looking at Turkish Design History and Branding in its 100th Year’ of our Republic, which set sail by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. Our greatest endeavor is to make progress with the strength and honor bestowed upon us by our Republic, which we inherited from our ancestor, and to ensure its transfer to future generations.”
İlhan Bilge: “The Republic's first priority was education”
Graphic Designer İlhan Bilge, evaluating the importance of education not being lost during the National Struggle period, said: “One needs to look at how the Republic viewed education. The Republic's first priority was education. While the War of Independence was still ongoing, before the Battle of Sakarya, and when it was uncertain whether the state would endure, an education council was convened in Ankara. Atatürk came from the front. He attended the council, then returned to the front. At that time, students were being sent to Europe for education even when it was uncertain if the state would continue. Education was that important. There's even an anecdote: After the Battle of Sakarya, İsmet İnönü was visiting the wounded. For a commander, the health of his soldiers is the top priority. They had put the wounded in schools, and he said; ‘Evacuate this place, education must not be disrupted.’ After he said this, they moved the wounded to another location, meaning education was their first priority.”
A major turning point…
Bilge, describing the transition to the Latin alphabet as a major turning point, said: “The Republic was declared in 1923. Five years later, the alphabet changed. This was a major turning point; the Arabic script, used for 1000 years, was abandoned. Until then, all creative work in miniatures was based on calligraphy. Turkish calligraphers had made great strides. Suddenly, they were faced with an alphabet they didn't know, but they were educated people, and almost ninety percent of the public was already illiterate. They learned the new letters much more easily, and it continued that way.”
Mehmet Dere: “I turned the strategy of my productions towards my own neighborhood”
Artist and academic Mehmet Dere, emphasizing that he shifted the strategy of his productions to his own neighborhood, said: “In 2008, artists descended upon the city in a placeless manner. I, too, turned my production strategy towards my own neighborhood. Because where will you exhibit your work? Of course, in a sense, in your own home. This is a converted dealership, a 40-50 sq meter space inherited from my father. We named the space White Coop (Beyaz Kümes) – a concept, meaning we displayed it in a bustling street within its area. Various exhibitions were held here. In essence, these exhibitions showcased and displayed the works I created in the field of art and design.”
Mehmet Dere conveyed the perception and usage research of images to students with verbal and visual examples from his own life.
The event concluded with the presentation of certificates and a group photo session.