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Hello everyone, I’m Filiz Eraslan, an Industrial Design student from the Middle East Technical University. My roots are in Kocaeli, a beautiful city located right on the eastern edge of Istanbul. Kocaeli holds a special place in my heart, primarily because of its two distinct coastlines. I truly love the sea; there is a profound sense of peace and clarity I find in walking along the shore, watching the water, or simply enjoying a picnic by the coastline. While I currently reside in Ankara for my studies (an inland city) the lack of the sea often fuels my homesickness. Fortunately, the local lakes here offer a comforting, if imperfect, sense of calm that helps bridge the distance. When it comes to my creative outlets, my free time is often devoted to reading novels. I am fascinated by human psychology and experience; I see engaging with the lives of others, whether real or fictional, as a uniquely profitable way to gain “experience” and perspective without the cost of error. Furthermore, I find pure escapism in Turkish TV series from the 2000s and 2010s; these shows are my favorite way to detach from my daily responsibilities and briefly enter entirely different universes. Professionally, my primary focus in design is manufacturability. I firmly believe that the most brilliant product idea holds little value unless it is grounded in practical production viability. For me, the true challenge and success of design lie in bridging the gap between an inspired concept and a physically achievable, real-world product. Looking ahead, after graduation, my immediate aspiration is to work in the white goods sector. I am particularly drawn to this field because I believe it involves intense and crucial human-product interaction, offering significant opportunities to apply my knowledge and contribute meaningful, user-centered solutions. Beyond my professional practice, I am also committed to continuous learning and plan to pursue a master’s degree to further deepen my academic and theoretical knowledge in my field.
You can connect with me via LinkedIn ((8) Filiz Eraslan | LinkedIn) or send an email directly to filiz.eraslan@metu.edu.tr.