Author: elifceren

Here is our video's link! You can check it out! https://youtu.be/2hG0tiZra9U

Hi everyone, as Team 11 here is our final design, The Eye of Parthenope! We learned a lot about culture in Naples and enjoyed designing so much a long the way.

As Team 11, we analyzed the design brief prepared by Team 19, which explored the cultural, social, and emotional context of elderly communities in Naples and the challenges they face with door-to-door scams. Based on the insights, scenarios, and symbolic elements presented in the brief, we developed nine concept ideas that reinterpret local traditions and visual culture into protective, awareness-building design proposals. In the following section, you will find the initial design concepts we created in response to the brief. Elif Ceren Uçar: Target Group Exploration- Ceren IDEA I- The Eye of Parthenope This concept began by studying the Baby Boomer generation and identifying visual elements they naturally recognize from their past. I chose to work with familiar 1960s patterns because these graphics shaped the visual memory of this age group, making them an ideal foundation for a design aimed at elderly users. Idea 1 concept exploration- Ceren I used the characteristic triple–circle forms of 1960s wallpaper patterns, which visually resemble eyes, and connected this to the protective eye symbols found in Italian and Turkish culture. I turned these eye-like motifs into a composition placed around the door peephole, positioning four circular graphics so they appear to “look toward” the hole. This arrangement draws the user’s attention to the peephole before they open the door.The color palette combines tones familiar to this generation—red, green, orange, brown, and black—with added blue accents to make the design more visible. I named this concept “The Eye of Parthenope,” inspired by Naples’ mythological protector. Idea 1 in use - Ceren IDEA II- Il Limone della Prudenza (caution lemon) This concept uses a familiar and beloved symbol from Neapolitan culture—the lemon—to deliver a gentle reminder about caution. Because lemons appear frequently in local decoration and are instantly recognizable to older users, they provide an accessible visual language to communicate the idea that things are not always what they seem. Idea 2 concept exploration - Ceren For this idea, I focused on the symbolic value of Neapolitan lemons. Although they are not part of every traditional dish, they are widely used as decorative elements in local homes. I paired this symbol with the Italian proverb “Trust is good, but mistrust is better,” emphasizing the idea that appearances can be misleading.Just as people expect the inside of a lemon to be yellow because the outside is yellow, elderly individuals may assume that the person at the door is who they claim to be. To challenge this expectation, I illustrated a lemon with a red interior, symbolizing caution and the unexpected.The drawing is placed on a decorative tile—a common element in older people's homes—so they can hang it without disrupting their familiar environment. The tile includes both the illustration and the proverb, ensuring that even if the text is hard to read, the imagery communicates the message clearly.By combining a cultural symbol with a protective message, “Il Limone della Prudenza” encourages users to think twice before opening their door. Idea 2 in use - Ceren IDEA III -…

Hi! I’m Elif Ceren Uçar, I’m an Industrial Design student at Middle East Technical University (METU) and a Business Administration student at Anadolu University, in Ankara, the capital of Türkiye. I usually go by Ceren, a Turkish name meaning grace, gentleness, and gazelle, which my mother chose for me. My father named me Elif, meaning sincerity and uprightness. My mom is from the Aegean region and my dad is from central of Türkiye, which makes me a true mix of Anatolia both in spirit and culture. 🌿 I try to live a full life and celebrate every moment. I’ve always been in love with the sea its rhythm, and the sense of freedom it gives me so I love water sports a lot and I do windsurfing, paddling, and swimming, and when I’m not in the water, you’ll probably find me cycling just to feel that same flow. I also play the violin and ukulele, and have music to accompany my days. I also love working with my hands, thus I do pottery wheel and flame glass shaping and also passionate about watercolor painting. I also love photography and enjoy capturing the frames of my life, keeping moments that inspire me. I really enjoy reading and have been building my personal library for the past five years, it already holds nearly 200 books. I’m especially drawn to history, particularly Turkish history, because it helps me understand my roots. It is nearly impossible for me to choose my favorite book because have many but lately it has been 'Olduğu Kadar Güzeldik' (We Were As Beautiful As We Were) by Mahir Ünsal Eriş because I found myself a lot in it. I don’t watch many TV shows, but my favorite series is Outlander, I love time traveling themes and Celt culture and my favorite movie is Call Me by Your Name that gives me the feeling of endless summer which is my favorite season. My favorite artist is Halsey, been a fan for 10 years, love her style and music so much that I relate a lot. I love my profession deeply, because there’s nothing I enjoy more than being creative and productive and industrial design fits that perfectly. I feel alive when creating. And here is a fun fact about me: I’m a bit of a ship nerd, I especially love ocean liners, mostly the Titanic, and I can talk about them for hours. (watercolor drawings by me) ⚓ Here are my contact infos! : Mail: e260771@metu.edu.tr Linkedln: linkedin.com/in/elif-ceren-uçar-0b09b9269 Instagram: e.cerenucar / cerens_camera