Nov 27 2024 64 mins 3
Özge Subaşı is the Director of Futurewell: CoCreation and Wellbeing Group in the Media and Visual Arts Department at Koç University in Turkey. In this episode, Özge shares a journey from industrial design to interaction design, with a focus on diversity, inclusion, and justice. The work with visually impaired children and older people significantly influenced Özge's transition into human-centered design. Özge's story reflects a life of multiple relocations—whether moving schools as a child, transitioning disciplines, or navigating new countries and cultures. Özge describes “always coming from somewhere and not being in the system.”
The episode emphasizes the importance of holding true to core values, such as listening without prejudgment, fostering open communication, and caring for both the individual and the community. Özge's practical examples illustrate how these values influence research and teaching choices, as well as navigating trade-offs, particularly while completing an evaluation document. The discussion also addresses challenges with Özge's depression during the academic journey and strategies for maintaining personal wellbeing. Additionally, the episode highlights some difficulties faced by academics in Türkiye, including engaging with the international community and managing issues related to travel and visas.
Özge's commitment to personal values, to trying different ways of being an academic researcher, and to fostering an empathetic and inclusive work culture is really inspiring.
Overview
00:00 Intro
00:29 Episode Introduction
03:37 Introduction and Background
04:39 Early Career and Education
08:10 Transition to Interaction Design
11:50 Values and Philosophy
14:15 Challenges in Academia
18:07 Building a Collaborative Culture
26:37 Balancing Academic Expectations
34:42 Navigating Academic Trade-offs
36:04 Embracing Personal Values
38:36 Prioritizing Mental Health
42:26 Building Supportive Environments
47:00 Challenges in Academia
53:45 International Collaboration and Travel
01:02:22 Concluding Thoughts
01:04:36 End
Related Links:
Futurewell: CoCreation and Wellbeing Group, Media and Visual Arts Department, Koç University
Özge’s LinkedIn page
Özge on Instagram @allthefooldays (personal page on food & family) and @sozges on X
