SHORT CV

Zeynep Arda received her PhD degree in Communication Sciences at Universidad Jaume I, Castellón, Spain, with her dissertation “Image Becomes Identity 2.0”, on online social networks, how they are shaping who we are and how we communicate with one another. During her PhD studies, she has continued her investigation at Institut Catholique de Toulouse (France) for three months to fulfil the requirements of European mention, and was awarded the title Doctor Europaeus Cum Laude.

She also holds an M.F.A. degree in Graphic Design from Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey (full scholarship), an M.A. degree in Interaction Design from Domus Academy, Milan, Italy (%90 scholarship) and a B.S. in Urban and Regional Planning from Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey.

Her multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary background forms the basis of her research agenda. Since 2017, she’s been working on her research “The Artistic Migrant Persona” in Turkey and abroad, funded by the European Union Horizon 2020, as part of the Trans-making project.

Besides her academic work, she has worked professionally as a designer and as a communication and design consultant with various international teams, companies and brands. Her designs have been awarded the first prize in 25 Years of Erasmus Poster Design (Spain) and Telecom Italia Web Design (Italy) competitions.

In the academic year 2022-23, on sabbatical leave from her current position in Turkey, she collaborated with the Global Perspectives and International Initiatives team at the University of Central Florida, as a visiting scholar.

She is currently an Associate Professor in the Visual Communication Design Department of Izmir University of Economics. Arda was the Department Chair from 2014 to 2022.