Melike Mühür, PhD, Industrial Designer
I'm an industrial designer and design researcher, specializing in the captivating intersection of design and Internet of Things
My doctoral thesis delved deeply into Speculative Design, exploring its critical and thought-provoking scenarios within the IoT domain, emphasizing their pivotal role in shaping the future. Traditional human-centered approaches fall short in IoT design, where everything actively participates in a network, demanding a constant reevaluation of perspectives. Shifting towards a 'thing-centric' approach, I place the 'thing' at the core as an active participant in an ever-evolving network. During my postgraduate studies, I honed my expertise in Open Design, where I championed the significance of the free software movement in design.
My passion lies in reshaping production into an open, participatory model that encourages active engagement in the design process. In this era where the tangible and digital seamlessly merge, I am committed to making design not only accessible but also intellectually stimulating. I believe that design today transcends mere user-friendliness, seeking to foster participation and inspire through a lens that is both critical and provocative. This is why Speculative Design, which critically, participatorily, and provocatively envisions the future, stands out as one of the areas I'm most enthusiastic about as a designer.
EDUCATION
2005-2010 Middle East Technical University (METU)
BSc, Industrial Design
2011-2014 Istanbul Technical University (ITU)
MSc, Industrial Design
2015-2022 Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University (MSFAU)
PhD, Industrial Design
PUBLICATIONS
PhD Thesis: The Internet of Things: A Description with Thing Netnography in the Context Of Speculative Design (2022). MSFAU, Institute of Science and Technology.
Master Thesis (M.Sc.): Evaluation of a Proposal for a Production Center FabLab as a Means of Realization of Open Design (2014). ITU, Institute of Science and Technology.
Mühür, M. (2015). Ceramic 3D Printers. 9th SERES International Ceramic Congress
Mühür, M. (2016). An Evaluation on Printed Ceramic Products by 3D Printers (March) Ceramic Turkey Journal (49), 88-97. https://serfed.com/seramik-turkiye-dergisi
Mühür, M. (2016). Analysis of Body Usage in György Pálfi’s Taxidermia (June) Akdeniz Üniversitesi İletişim Fakültesi Dergisi , (25) , 194-210 . DOI: 10.31123/akil.438542
Mühür, M. & Yurt, C. (2021). Experiencing Fab Lab without Boundaries: an Online Tool for Makers Community. Proceedings of the Fab 16 Research Papers Stream, pp. 191-205At: Montréal, Canada, 9-12 August 2021. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.5169848
Patent Registration Number: 2018/14756
Design Registration Number: 2018 06085
ACCOMPLISHMENTS & AWARDS
Design Turkey 2019, Conceptual Design Category Exhibited Product: Sopotap
IMMIB CONCEPT 2014: Toy Design Competition Team Project, Finalist
Design Turkey 2012, Team Project, Exhibited Product: Fraktal
8th Taç Design Contest 2010, 7th Prize
7th Taç Design Contest 2010, 3rd Prize
ASD National Packaging Competition 2009, Honorable Mention
Worldstar Student Tunisia 2009, Certificate of Recognition
OTHER INVOLVEMENTS
Board Member, Industrial Designers’ Society of Turkey (ETMK) Izmir Branch
February 2020 – January 2023
Exhibitor at 87th Izmir International Fair, Main Hall
07-11 September 2018, with Neme Design Start-up
Exhibitor at Zuchex Home and Kitchenwares Fair, Istanbul
September 2017, with Neme Design Start-up
Exhibitor at Istanbul Maker Faire, Haydarpaşa 2017
27-29 October 2017 with Neme Design Start-up
Participation at International Table of Content Exhibition, Helsinki
2012, Student participator in a team project at Istanbul Technical University
Project Coordination Team Member, Işık University Exhibition: IMPERFECTION
October-December 2012, Istanbul Design Biennale Academy Programme