Uşak University's 9-Country Design Summit Ends

Future Design Discussed in Uşak

The “International Design Conference Focusing on Trend and Technology in the Digital Age” organized by Uşak University Leather, Textile and Ceramics (DTS) Design Application and Research Center on 28-29-30 April 2025 has ended.

The pulse of the design world was kept in the three-day series of conferences. The digitalization and trend-oriented transformation process was discussed in different aspects.

Uşak University Became the International Address of Digital Transformation in Design

The conference brought topics such as digitalization in design, Industry 5.0, sustainability, artificial intelligence applications, R&D and product development processes, and trend analysis to the agenda. The event brought together leading national and international experts of the sector with academia and industry stakeholders.

With these conferences, Uşak University DTS Design Center not only produced academic knowledge but also contributed to the digital transformation journey of Uşak and the regional industry. Participants also had the opportunity to develop new collaborations and evaluate best practices on the axis of design and technology.

Academicians and Artists from 9 Countries were hosted in Uşak

Academics, designers and artists from 9 different countries (Turkey, USA, UK, Italy, Belgium, Morocco, Tunisia, Mongolia, Thailand) participated in the conference. The event, where ideas were exchanged at the international level, was organized in a hybrid format with online and face-to-face presentations. In addition, design-oriented workshops and practice-based sessions where participants could actively interact were also included.

Industry 5.0, Sustainability and Digitalization Discussed on the First Day

On the first day of the event, a fashion show titled “Colors of Turkey” prepared by Izmir Maturation Institute was presented to the appreciation of the participants.  In the first session following the fashion show, a conference titled “Design in the Digital Age” was organized under the chairmanship of RG Deri General Manager Mustafa Kararmış. Ian Padget from Kasetsart University in Thailand presented “Artificial Intelligence and Creative Thinking”, Davide Montagnani from Officina Grafica in Italy presented “Trend Analysis and Product Development Process” and Maroua Regragu from Repubblica Co. in the USA presented “Industry 5.0 in Leather Production: Balancing Technology, Sustainability and Craftsmanship”. In the “Technology-Centered Design” session held in the afternoon, under the chairmanship of Prof. Dr. Deniz Uçar, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Prof. Dr. Antonella Trombador from the University of Florence, Italy, presented “Digital Transformation in Higher Education: Digital Decathlon Competition and Digital Twin Project”, and Assoc. Prof. Jihen Trabelsi from Monastir University, Tunisia, ”Circular Design in the Digital Age: The New Era of Sustainable Progress”.

The first day of the conference ended with two separate workshops organized at the DTS Faculty of Fine Arts Ceramics Graduate Workshop. In the first workshop, Assist. Assist. Prof. Dr. Onur Fındık, “Clay Sculpture Techniques” were taught practically by Mongolian artist Sukhburen Narankhuu. In the second workshop, Assist. Assist. Ömer Görkem, “Wood Carving and Edirnekâri” work was carried out by İzmir Maturation Institute.

'Artificial Intelligence and Design World' came together on the second day

The second day of the event started with online sessions. In the first session, Assist. Prof. Dr. Fatih Aytekin, a conference on “Fabric Digitization and 3D Design” was held. Kerem Kadiroğlu from Masterkey Virtual Fashion presented “Fabric Digitization and Artificial Intelligence”, Rıza Temel from Polytropon Information Services presented “How Artificial Intelligence (AI) Will Change the Fashion Industry?”, Begüm Doğru Öztekin from Refabric | AI Powered Fashion Solutions presented “Fashion Design, Marketing and Production Solutions with Artificial Intelligence” and answered the questions of the participants. In the second session, an online conference on “Digital Design in Textile and Apparel Industry” was held under the chairmanship of DTS Design Center Manager Assoc. Prof. Dr. Eren Öner. Sıla Küçükoğlu from Sun Tekstil R&D Center shared current information on “Digitalization in the Ready-to-Wear Sector: R&D and Design”, Nurcan Sönmez and Melike Güral from LC Waikiki shared current information on “Digital and Design”. After the online sessions, face-to-face sessions were held. Lecturer Prof. Dr. Neslihan Öpöz Vural Prof. Dr. Neslihan Öpöz Vural chaired the session on “Artificial Intelligence Applications in Design”, Özgecan Üstgül, the founder of MYTH-AI company, which is one of the first in the world in its field, gave information about “Model and Pattern Design with Originality Certificate with Artificial Intelligence” and Dr. Burak Dervişoğlu from Topkapı University gave information about “Art and Design with Artificial Intelligence” and explained their work. A design workshop was also held on the second day of the event. In the workshop led by Assoc. Prof. Şirin Koçak and attended by consultant Aydın Şölenay and Seranit Support Team Serdar Işıktaş at the Faculty of Fine Arts Ceramics Laboratory, “Creating a Surface Design from Nature and Application Process in Digital Environment” was explained and studies on the subject were carried out.

On the Third Day Career Opportunities and the Meeting of Tradition with Technology

The last day of the event ended with a conference on “Career Journey and Digital Design”. Lecturer. Assist. Prof. Dr. Ceyda Sıkı, Assist. Assist. Prof. Dr. Cemile Kahraman and Assist. Assist. Prof. Anna Callurı Holcombe from the University of Florida in the United States of America under the chairmanship of Nilüfer Ünay Çubukçu, Prof. Anna Callurı Holcombe from the University of Florida in the United States of America ''Meeting of Technology and Tradition'', Assoc. Prof. Debora Gıorgı from the University of Florence in Italy ''CROSSTEX: Cross-Sector Traceability Platform for Circular Textiles'', Beyza Çoban from the United States of America on ''Styling and Creative Direction'' and Ufuk Akkaya Eton from Italy on ''A Career Journey from Istanbul to Milan'' and answered the questions of the participants.

''A City in Name, A World in Target: Usak University''

In 2016, Prof. Dr. Ekrem Savaş stated that Uşak University, which is one of the first five universities of the “Regional Development Oriented Mission Differentiation and Specialization of Our Universities” program announced by our President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, is specializing in the fields of Leather, Textile and Ceramics: Uşak University” mission in 2018 and underlined that they have become the shining star of regional development, design and branding.

Rector Savaş: ''Our conference was a visionary gateway to digital transformation, artificial intelligence, sustainability and international collaborations.''

Rector Savaş stated that the important event called “Trend and Technology Oriented International Design Conference in the Digital Age” organized by Uşak University DTS Design Center is not only a conference in the effort to adapt to the dynamics of the age, but also a visionary door to digital transformation, artificial intelligence, sustainability and international collaborations.

Prof. Dr. Ekrem Savaş pointed out that in addition to accelerating the creative industries of the region, it has succeeded in making Uşak more visible on the international design and technology agenda. Prof. Dr. Ekrem Savaş said, “The Trend and Technology Oriented International Design Conference in the Digital Age has reached its goal of creating a sustainable impact in the design world by laying the foundations for interdisciplinary knowledge sharing and permanent collaborations. This important event was a strong step towards making Uşak one of the innovative centers of the digital age by preparing the ground for international design meetings with wider participation in the coming years. I would like to thank our President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, our Higher Education Council President Prof. Dr. Erol Özvar, our Higher Education Council members and all the institutions that support the Regional Development Oriented Mission Differentiation and Specialization Program.