The Gökçeada Design Workshops, first initiated in 2014 and held annually since then, represent the most comprehensive implementation of the Social Design approach in Turkey. The workshops are grounded in the use of creative and innovative design methods to address local, social, and economic challenges.

They aim to contribute to a sustainable and environmentally conscious development process by transforming Gökçeada’s cultural and natural resources into high value-added products and services, with the active participation of the local community.

Organized under the leadership of ÖzÜ/İID, the workshops bring together students, academics, and designers from Özyeğin University as well as various universities in Turkey and around the world. In previous years, participants have included students from ITU, Anadolu University, Dokuz Eylül University, Atılım University, IZTECH, Izmir University of Economics, and Yaşar University; as well as faculty members from the University of Edinburgh, MHKM Munich, and Izmir University of Economics.

Gökçeada Design Workshops 3

The third Gökçeada Design Workshop was held between June 12 and 19, 2016, under the themes of “Renewal” (craft, space, and environment) and “Locality–Direction–Trajectory.” Participants were divided into four groups and conducted their studies in Gökçeada center, Zeytinliköy, and Eşelek.
Gökçeada Design Workshops 2

The second Gökçeada Design Workshop took place between June 21–29, 2015, under the theme of “Renewal.” Each of the four groups focused on craft, service, food, and space, and carried out their work in three locations on the island: Zeytinliköy, Eşelek, and Dereköy.
Gökçeada Design Workshops 1

The first Gökçeada Design Workshop was held between June 20 and 27, 2014, across Gökçeada, under the themes of “Sustainability” and “Locality–Direction–Trajectory.”