Design, Technology and Society
Ongoing technological developments offer a wide range of opportunities for the creative industries. In the fundamental fields of the global market where creative industries can grow – design, film production, music, animation, interactive media, computer games, digital advertisement, gastronomy and cultural heritage – the creative industries need scholars and professionals who can use interdisciplinary thinking skills to develop new approaches for the utilization of technologies and digital products. All over the world, there is an expanding need for experts who can creatively manage the convergence of different communication platforms, who can analyze, anticipate and address the changing needs and expectations of individuals as consumers or as citizens.
More so than in the past, creative industries in today’s world comprise increasingly complex components and processes in terms of form, function, material and production. Consequently, it is becoming more important to acquire an interdisciplinary understanding of new concepts of the 21st century, such as interaction design, experience design, and service design.
This new interdisciplinary field which combines applied design, social and behavioral sciences, computation, and experimental design requires an extensive understanding of human cognition, emotions, and perceptions; of systems and informatics; of the history and philosophy of science; of technology, and information. Therefore, close collaboration between the disciplines of design, computing, psychology, sociology, history and media studies is imperative.
This graduate program aims to provide students with an opportunity to acquire an applied, theoretical, and critical understanding of interactive communication, experience design and service design, and to develop as researchers and practitioners.
The Design, Technology & Society graduate program offers students the options of completing the program with a graduation project (MDes Degree), a master’s thesis (MA Degree), or a doctoral thesis (PhD degree).
NOTICE:
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Applying by the appropriate deadlines ensures that your application will be considered for the relevant academic term and current research projects.
Eligibility
Graduates from the fields of design, engineering and the social sciences will be accepted into the programs.
Financial Aid
Scholarships and funding opportunities are available for qualified candidates, through Koç University and/or externally funded research projects. Decisions regarding a candidate’s suitability for financial aid will be made on an individual basis.
IMPORTANT: Please review the application procedures carefully before applying to the program, as there are several steps that must be completed at least two months before the application.
- Understanding and analyzing contemporary developments in the field of user-oriented design
- To be able to use design, technology and social sciences interdisciplinary studies
- Producing experimental prototypes, learning normative methods, analyzing user data or obtaining a culture of design, artistic and/or social criticism
- Transforming the findings into scientific publications
- Observing research projects suggestions and application conclusion processes
Graduates of the MA Program in Design, Technology and Society can work in many national and international academic positions, journals and publishing houses in design, technology and society, research centers, and private and public institutions serving in the relevant field, provided that they provide the necessary competencies.
Below is listed current research labs and groups;
Amir Hetsroni Research Group
Artistic Research Studio
Design for Sustainable and Healthy Living at Design Lab
Ergin Bulut Research Group
Interactive Information Design Research Group (Happern) at Design Lab
İpek Rappas Research Group
Özge Subaşı
Social Interaction & Media Lab
Oğuzhan Özcan’s Research Group at Design Lab
Since Design, Technology & Society is an interdisciplinary graduate program, faculty members from different disciplines can be advisors for the students. In this case, the reason why the DTS program is preferred instead of a graduate program in another disciplines should be explained clearly.