International designers meet Türkiye’s design ecosystem Design Dialogues by Istanbul Modern and Volvo

Launched through a collaboration between Istanbul Modern and Volvo, Design Dialogues creates an interdisciplinary platform for dialogue in the field of design through MasterClass and WorkShop programs held across 10 different themes over the course of a year. Bringing together design students, recent graduates, and young professionals with international designers, the program aims to foster inspiring encounters and exchanges.

Drawing inspiration from the practice of creating better ways of living, Design Dialogues places the relationship between people and their environment at its core. The program seeks to reinterpret sustainability, technology, culture, and production processes through a design perspective.

Throughout the program, sustainability will be explored beyond material, production, and consumption cycles, addressing its cultural and social dimensions through the universal concept of “good design.” Topics such as the evolving role of the designer, creative processes and the power of branding, the impact of digitalization on design and craftsmanship, and the historical, economic, and political dimensions of design will be examined. Interdisciplinary practices at the intersection of design and art will be discussed, with leading figures in the field sharing their experiences and reflecting on the future impact of design thinking.

PRESS CONFERENCE

At the press conference held with the participation of Istanbul Modern Board Chair of the Board Oya Eczacıbaşı and Volvo Car Türkiye Managing Director Alican Emiroğlu, the year-long Design Dialogues program – comprising MasterClass seminars and two-day WorkShops – was introduced.

Eczacıbaşı: A result of our strong collaborations with the creative ecosystem

Emphasizing that the program draws inspiration from Istanbul Modern’s design-focused exhibitions, programs, and projects since 2004, Oya Eczacıbaşı stated: “Design Dialogues emerges from our museum’s strong collaborations with the creative ecosystem, our new museum building, and innovative projects that bring together design, art, and craftsmanship. As a museum, we have supported design culture through initiatives such as ‘From Craft to Design’, which brings together artists and designers with disappearing crafts; the ‘Design Cities’ exhibition organized in collaboration with the Design Museum London; and ‘Guests: Artists and Craftspeople,’ a project realized through collaborations between international artists and master artisans in Istanbul. This program adds value to our educational mission by addressing design and contemporary design issues in depth.”

Emiroğlu: At Volvo, design brings together aesthetics, safety, sustainability, and human-centered thinking

Alican Emiroğlu, Managing Director of Volvo Car Türkiye, described Volvo’s approach to design as follows: “We see design not merely as aesthetics, but as an experience that makes life easier, takes responsibility, and adds value to the future. At Volvo, design brings together aesthetics with safety, sustainability, and human-centered thinking under one roof. The Design Dialogues program we are launching today with Istanbul Modern starts from this very question: How can design guide us toward a better life and a better environment? As two institutions that share similar visions, we are truly happy and excited about this program, which we believe will create an inspiring space – especially for young designers – where we will seek answers to this question together with participants.”