"Italian Design Days" Kicks Off

World-renowned Italian designers will be in Istanbul for "Italian Design Days," followed by events in Ankara and Izmir in the coming days. Hosted by the Italian Consulate General in Istanbul and the Istanbul Italian Cultural Center, in cooperation with Yıldız Technical University and Yıldız Technopark, the events will take place between 23-24 March 2020 at Venetian Palace, the Italian Cultural Center, Salt Galata, Mongeri House and Yıldız Technical University. Italian Design Days, organized simultaneously by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation with 100 Italian consulates and now in its fourth edition, aims to present "Made in Italy" design from different perspectives within a context that offers comprehensive opportunities for both Italy and Turkey. With the 2020 theme set as "Sketching the Future, Development, Innovation, Sustainability and Beauty," the content of the events was expanded within the framework of university-industry cooperation vision, and Yıldız Technopark, selected as Turkey's most successful technopark according to 2018 data from the Ministry of Industry and Technology, was included among the hosts. Within this scope, cooperation areas with Italian and Turkish companies were broadened. Curated by world-renowned architect and curator Prof. Luca Molinari, Italian Design Days will host Italy's leading names in architecture, industrial design (product, furniture, automotive and yacht design, etc.) and fashion over two days through panels and workshops held at Venetian Palace, the Italian Cultural Center and venues designed by 19th-century Italian architects such as Salt Galata and Mongeri House, as well as at Yıldız Technical University facilities.  

Design Education in Italy

In the panel titled "Design Education in Italy" at the sessions to be held on 23 March, the first day of the Italian Design Days event, at the YTU Auditorium in Yıldız Technical University's Beşiktaş Campus, speakers will include Prof. Carlo Branzaglia, Scientific Coordinator of Institute of European Design Milano, Prof. Cherubino Gambardella, Academic and Architect from University of Campania-Napoli, Architect Doğu Kaptan, Founder of Atelier 70, Consultant Sinem Kocayaş, Founder of 700 DCC, Joelle Dana Bicaci, Strategic Brand Management and Communications Consultant at Arzu Kaprol, Baran Akalın, Yacht Designer and Academic, Founder of Baran Akalın Design, and Murat Sarı, International Relations Coordinator at Yıldız Technical University.

Designing Art and Fashion

On 23 March at the Italian Cultural Center in Beyoğlu, following the session titled "Designing Art" with the participation of Prof. Luca Molinari, Founder of Luca Molinari Studio, Architect and Curator, Efe Korkut Kurt, Founder and Curator of Alan Project, Architect Alper Derinboğaz, Founder of Salon Architects, and Deniz Ova, Director of IKSV Istanbul Biennial, the panel titled "The Future of Fashion and Sustainability" will feature Journalist and Author Demet Cengiz, Fashion Designer Arzu Kaprol, Associate Editor of Vogue Italia Sara Maino, Fashion Designer Ece Gözen, Polat Uyal, CMO of Beymen & Boyner Group, and Zeynep Üner, Director of ELLE Turkey.

Architecture and Design in Italy

The second day of the event on 24 March will continue with sessions at Yıldız Technical University, Salt Galata and Mongeri House. The first of the sessions titled "Architecture and Design in Italy" will take place with the participation of İsa Turgut İnci, Deputy General Manager and Architect at Yıldız Technopark A.Ş., Architect Laura Andreini from University of Florence, Prof. Carlo Branzaglia, Scientific Coordinator of Institute of European Design Milano, and Architect Simona Ottieri from Gambardella Architetti. In the second session titled "Architecture and Design in Italy", participants will include Prof. Luca Molinari, Founder of Luca Molinari Studio, Architect and Curator, Dr. Pınar Sipahi, Architect and Academic from Yıldız Artpark, Architect Alper Derinboğaz, Founder of Salon Architects, Architect Han Tümertekin, Founder of Architects and Han Tümertekin, and Architect Cherubino Gambardella, Founder of Gambardella Architetti. The panel sessions to be held on 23-24 March within the scope of Italian Design Days will be open free of charge to architecture, design and fashion enthusiasts who register through the event's website.   Applications for panel and workshop participation can be made through the website: www.italiandesigndays.istanbul