Selection Committee

Recognized by UNESCO as “one of the most important intellectuals of our time,” Livaneli has contributed to the cultural accumulation of Turkey and the world through various media such as music, literature and cinema. The prolific author’s novels and books of thought have been published in 41 countries and have been bestsellers in China, Korea and Germany. Books such as The Last Island, Happiness, Serenade, Serenade and Restlessness, which attracted the attention of the world’s press and international cultural circles, have been well received by American readers.

Zülfü Livaneli’s novels have received many prestigious national and international awards such as the Book of the Year Award in Italy and France, the Barnes and Noble Award, the Balkan Literature Award in the USA, the Yunus Nadi Novel Award, the Orhan Kemal Novel Award and the White Seagull Honor Award in Turkey.

His novels have been used as textbooks at the University of Missouri, and he has given lectures and conferences at universities such as Columbia, Harvard, Princeton, Shanghai, St. Petersburg, and Kazan, as well as at various Turkish universities. Outside of Turkey, master’s and doctoral theses have been written on him at the universities of Moscow, Kazan, and Krakow.

He was a founding member of the Issyk-Kul Forum, organized by Cengiz Aitmatov, with the participation of 20th century literary geniuses and thinkers such as Arthur Miller, Peter Ustinov, James Baldwin and Yaşar Kemal.

In the 1980s, when Turkish-Greek relations were going through a difficult period, Livaneli, an intellectual-artist who was accused of his ideas in 1972, sentenced to prison and lived in exile for many years, became one of the founders of the Turkish-Greek Friendship Association under the influence of the political atmosphere of the time. Between 1996 and 2016, he was a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador. Between 2002 and 2006, he was a member of the Turkish Grand National Assembly.

Zülfü Livaneli, who has an indispensable place in Turkey’s music, culture, ideas and politics, continues his intellectual and literary production in Bodrum, where he still lives.

Birth

1959 Istanbul

Education

1982 IDGSA-UESYO Graphics Department

(currently Mimar Sinan University, Faculty of Fine Arts, Department of Graphics)

Career

1981 Yorum Agency / Graphic Designer

1985 Markom / Graphic Designer

1988 Gift Ltd. / Graphic Designer-Founding Partner

1994 Birleşik Tasarımcılar Grubu A.Ş. / Graphic Designer-Founding Partner

1998 Serdar Benli Design Office

1994-2003 Mimar Sinan University Graphics Department – Lecturer

2003 Arçelik Corporate Identity Consultancy (Ongoing)

2006-2011 Abdi İbrahim Pharmaceuticals Corporate Identity Consultancy

2008 Koç Holding Corporate Identity Consultancy (Ongoing)

2010-2018 Corporate Cooperation with Chermayeff & Geismar & Haviv NY

2016 Setur Corporate Identity Consultancy (Ongoing)

2018 Tüpraş Corporate Identity Consultancy (Ongoing)

Born in 1966, Kösemen is a writer of Sabitfikir, lecturer of Istanbul Kültür University, member of GMK, TasaPlatform, İTMK and RYD, managing partner of Myra, Ceviz and HalkPlajı, radio programmer of social good communication Hemzemin with his partner Damla Özlüer on Açık Radyo, designer of various alternative initiatives and uncle of an 9 year old nephew.

He studied industrial design at METU but did not complete. He had good times, bad times and some sour times in the past. He toured around Turkey, went to Europe, learned English, forgot English, did some publications and published some fanzines. Once a journalist, once a peddlar, now a designer. He walked, halted, designed, had been designed. He was less for some and much for other some. He never liked cars, he doesn’t have a driving license either. He likes to walk, he has been walking for 48 years.

Started his design career in 1993 as part-time and continued as full time after 1997. Graduated from Dokuz Eylul University, Faculty of Fine Arts, Graphic Department in 1999 with the project prepared on interactive interface design and moved to Istanbul; worked as art director until 2002 for major brands. In 2002 he became a lecturer in the department from where he graduated. In 2004 he established “ambalajtasarimi.com (about packaging design)”; he made several package design activities and publications possible. In 2006, he supported the foundation of the magazine “Digital Arts”. The same year he was the founder editor of “Grafik Tasarim”, the leading Turkish graphic design magazine, and continued with this assignment for 30 issues. In 2009, he completed his graduate degree in the field of package design. Along with writing articles on graphic design and making presentations Durmaz also published a research book named “100 Graphic Designers and Illustrators of Istanbul”. During 2010–2012 he participated as a member in the board of management of “Turkish Society of Graphic Designers (GMK)”. In 2010 he founded a design collective named “Tasa Platform” with a group of designers; the same year Tasa executed the first “Design Walk” of Turkey. Again in 2010 he was one of the two founders of the “Turkish Typography Community”. After his first individual exhibition in 2005, he organized his last exhibition “The Cover Artists of Babiali” in 2013 with a research on Turkey’s visual communication history. Durmaz who is an organizer and participator of many national and international activities, is working as an academician in Dokuz Eylul University, Fine Arts Faculty Department of Graphic Design and is a member of the “Tasarim Gazetesi (Design Newspaper)” advisory board and he is also freelancing his design works.

A communication designer who specializes in typography and typeface design, Segalini studied and practiced design in Italy, Finland, Turkey, and the U.S. He teaches typography and graphic design at Binghamton University and is the house typographer and graphic designer of Contra Mundum Press. In 2010, he co-founded ISType (Istanbul Type Seminars), a lecture and workshop series devoted to encouraging typographic literacy in Turkey. Segalini designed the typeface Hemingway, which was selected for the UK Creative Review Type Annual in 2011. He owns the copyright on typesetting for a volume now included in the Chicago Newberry Library’s Collection on the History of Printing. More about his production  can be seen at: alessandrosegalini.com

Demetrios Fakinos entered the world of publishing in 1998 with +DESIGN magazine and has been servicing the communication design scene ever since. In 2002 he initiated EBGE (Greek Communication Design Awards). He organises (or co-organises) three annual conferences that cover the fields of communication design (DesignAthens), architecture and interior design (ESO), and digital design (Digitized). Since 2007 he directs the European Design Awards and the accompanying festival. He has served on the advisory board of the Porto Design Biennial and is a member of the BMW Foundation Responsible Leaders Forum.

Daniele Savasta is an interaction designer and assistant professor of visual communication design. He graduated from the University of Palermo in Industrial Design and then from the Iuav University of Venice with a master’s degree in Product Design and a PhD in Design Sciences. During his doctoral studies, he dedicated a semester at the Izmir Institute of Technology to tie his research in interaction design with the public space.

Since 2005, he has been teaching as a research assistant and then as a visiting lecturer at the Universities of Palermo, Politecnico di Milano, Iuav University of Venice, and the University of Lisbon Belas Artes. He joined Yaşar University in 2014 as a lecturer, establishing a lab for interaction research. In 2023, he started lecturing at the Faculty of Fine Arts and Design at the Izmir University of Economics. He offered lectures and workshops with a broad spectrum of subjects including speculative and information design, creative coding, inclusive and service design.

His practice focuses on designing interfaces for cultural heritage, games, interactive places and dynamic web identities. His work has been exhibited and recognized internationally, and he collaborates within EU projects, with professional associations, and with independent collectives in the neighbourhood and abroad.

She graduated from Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, Department of Graphic Arts in 1992. Between 1992-2002, she worked as art director and creative director at Young and Rubicam Reklamevi, Repro and RPM Radar/CDP Europe. Between 1993-2013, she won awards in various categories in the exhibitions of Turkish Graphic Designers Association (GMK). She founded Demir Tasarım in 2003. Between 2006-2012, she served as the chairman of the board of directors of GMK and served as vice president of the World Design Council (ico-D) board of directors between 2011-2015. Demir, who is a lecturer at Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, Department of Graphic Arts; served as a jury member in many national and international competitions, was invited to conferences and seminars, and led workshops such as GMK, AWDA, EMZIN, Yahşibey Workhops, Grafist 14, Taiwan International Design Competition. She took part in the 2nd International Istanbul Design Biennial Advisory Board. Demir continues run her professional practice in Demir Tasarım, mainly on exhibition, book and identity design.

Srinivasarao Patturu, popularly known as Vaasu or Sri, is a seasoned professional with over 36 years of experience in the field of design and innovation. His extensive expertise encompasses a wide range of disciplines, including Business Design, Design Strategy, Brand Design, Service Design, Experience Design, Graphic Design, Industrial Design, and Design Facilitation.

As the visionary founder of W H Y L A B, Vaasu leads a dedicated team that practises planet-centric Design & innovation frameworks, placing strong emphasis on sustainability, inclusivity, and social responsibility. Their collective goal is to shape a better future through innovative design solutions that not only address the needs of people but also have a positive impact on the planet.

Vaasu is a Partner, Executive Director & Dean of Indian School of Design, Hyderabad- India

Combining his unparalleled design expertise with a strategic vision, Vaasu is passionate about creating a brighter and more promising future through his work. His dedication to the principles of sustainability and responsible design sets him apart as a true pioneer in the industry.

Born in 1964 in Muğla. 1987 Dokuz Eylül University Buca Faculty of Education

He graduated from the Department of Painting and Work, Graphic Art Branch.

In 1989, he completed Hacettepe University S. B. E. Graphic Art Department Master’s program.

In 1996, he completed Hacettepe University S. B. E. Graphics Department Proficiency in Art program.

He worked as an Instructor at Hacettepe University Faculty of Fine Arts in 1991-2000 and as an Assistant Professor at Mersin University Faculty of Fine Arts, Department of Graphics in 2000-2005. In 2008, he received the title of Associate Professor. He served as the Head of the Department of Graphics between 2005-2010, as the Dean of Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University Bodrum Faculty of Fine Arts between 2013-2020, and still works as the Head of the Department of Graphics at the same faculty.

He has a published book titled Graphic Language and Expression Forms.