Contemporary Design Education

Since its establishment in 1986, we work with our students in a dynamic environment that facilitates keeping up with the rapid developments and transformations in the design world. We offer a contemporary education platform for our students to practice a wide range of skills including visual/corporate identity studies; typography and type design; illustrations, posters, brochures and book design; packages, advertisement and editorial design; web and mobile interface design; motion graphics, video production and animation design.

Theory/practice Unity

Uniting theory and practice is our departmental concern that defines our approach. Students explore their own critical thinking and research potentials in an independent, creative and unique intellectual environment. Our goal is educate students as not only following the developments in the field, but become pioneers in the design world. We are equally invested in processes as much as the outcomes. In addition to the studios, we offer many courses on culture including art&culture, history of art&design, analysis of art, philosophy and design issues.

Announcement – 7 August 2023

The results of the evaluation for the Instructor position announced in the Official Newspaper dated 14.07.2023 and numbered 32248:

The evaluation of the candidates who applied for the position of Instructor in the Graphic Design Department of Bilkent University FADA has been completed and you can access the evaluation results by clicking here.

FADA
STARS
AIRS
CALENDAR
LIBRARY
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STUDENT WORK

Explore Your Influence

Explore Your Influence

Yağmur Başgül (interface design studio / hand-coded web-site)

3 Days In Ankara

3 Days In Ankara

Sinan Özer

Guide Dog

Guide Dog

Arda S. Erdeniz, Murat Akkuş

Guide Dog

Guide Dog

Murat Akkuş, Arda S. Erdeniz

Image text compositions

Image text compositions

Orçun Yıldırım

Icons from letterforms

Icons from letterforms

Buğra Kantar

Typography With A Code

Typography With A Code

Ece Karaca

Typography With A Code

Typography With A Code

Sinan Özen

Fear

Fear

Mert Öskeroğlu

İzmir Jazz Festival

İzmir Jazz Festival

Ece Kurtboğan

Film Festival Poster

Film Festival Poster

Ege Alper

Design is Wow

Design is Wow

Şule Kocakavak

İsometric Initials

İsometric Initials

Aslı Narin

Monochramatic Composition

Monochramatic Composition

Gözde Küçük

3D Metamorphosis

3D Metamorphosis

Yiğitcan Tuncer

Digital Color Scale

Digital Color Scale

Gözde Küçük

Unity Through Distortion

Unity Through Distortion

Gürkan Gürler

GRA_215_4

GRA_215_4

4.artur

4.artur

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SOCIAL MEDIA

bilgra @facebook

bilgra @instagram

bilgra @vimeo

bilgra @behance

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PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS

About Graphic Design

Graphic Design is defined as the process of visual communication and problem solving based on the art or skill of combining text, imagery and other content. It is to design and produce message oriented solutions for target audience by using printed and digital media. This dynamic in the field of visual culture have an important effect on many professions ranging from art to advertising; print media to tv broadcasting. Graphic designers play a key role in all aspects of the visual culture including (but not limited to) advertising and communications sectors.

Facilities

Bilkent University, Department of Graphic Design is an attractive art and design platform with many opportunities in a 3-storey separate building. Professional photography and video labs including 2 studios, analog equipments and a dark room; Advanced computer infrastructure and computer aided animation production facility; large ateliers for studio practices; conference rooms and many classrooms for various seminars. In addition, our students are allowed and encouraged to use other departments’ facilities, studios and equipments, such as Fine Arts screen-printing studio.

Exchange Programs

Our students have the opportunity to go to Europe with Erasmus program, and also to the United States with the Bilkent Student Exchange Program, as exchange students. They can complete some portion of their curricular requirements abroad. For more information about student exchange programs and procedures, please contact our Exchange Program Coordinator Birsu Çeltek, or visit Bilkent Exchange Programs Office website.

After Bilgra

Bilkent Graphic Design alumni continued their career in various fields such as design offices, advertising agencies, newspapers and periodicals, film production companies and TV channels. Some graduates also continued their postgraduate education to choose an academic career. Bilkent's tradition of strong English educational system allows our graduates to pursue careers abroad. Graduating with a wide range of skills, our graduates explore many different design-oriented neighbour activities such as exhibition curatorship, shoe and clothing design, product design, time-based and social media.

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CURRICULUM

FIRST ACADEMIC YEAR

AUTUMN SEMESTER

FA 105 FOUNDATION STUDIO I
Introduction to the basic elements and the principles of two-dimensional design. Development of an understanding of the visual language while improving abilities in abstract thinking and problem solving. - (credit: 6 - ects: 8,5)
FA 103 DRAWING I
Exploration of the human figure, its parts and its form as far as structure and functions are concerned. Drawing fundamentals in figurative expression, proportions and compositional expressions by working directly from the model in various media. - (credit: 3 - ects: 5)
MATH 103 THINKING MATHEMATICALLY
Critical thinking and problem solving. Set theory. Logic; inductive and deductive reasoning. The real number system, integers, rational and irrational numbers. Exponents and scientific notation, roots. Algebraic equations and inequalities. Linear and quadratic equations. Functions and graphs; graph reading. Exponential, logarithmic, and quadratic functions. Credit units: 3 ECTS Credit units: 5.
GRA 131 DESIGN TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES
Foundations for visualization tools and technical skills in graphic design. - (credit: 3 - ects: 5)
ENG 101 ENGLISH AND COMPOSITION I
The central basis of ENG 101 is to introduce students to an academic approach to thinking, reading, speaking and writing in an integrated, meaningful manner such that they are able to apply the skills learnt to their departmental studies. In addition, the ENG 101 course aims to further develop the students' linguistic accuracy and range in English. - (credit: 5 - ects: 5)
TURK 101 TURKISH I
This course is the first of a sequence of two courses designed to develop creative writing skills of the students through their own writings in Turkish. It is an active learning course. Students write their own blogs and instructors comment and send feedback about the creativity, content, composition, grammar, spelling and punctuation of the writing regularly. - (credit: 2 - ects: 3)
GE 100 ORIENTATION
Introduction to university's academic and social environment by series of activities. Talks by university administrators and guest speakers, workshops, concerts and tours of departments. Sports centers, computing facilities and library also part of orientation program. Complete set of activities and required minimum in orientation book. Mandatory for first-year students. - (credit: 1 - ects: 2)

SPRING SEMESTER

FA 106 FOUNDATION STUDIO II
As a continuation of FA 105, new subjects such as color, value, texture, transparency and layers via basic 2D, 3D and 4D design problems. Prerequisite: FA 101 or FA 105. - (credit: 6 - ects: 8,5)
FA 104 DRAWING II
Exploration of visual form, character and gesture of movements of the human figure. Searching, evaluating and applying the basic elements of life drawing: line, form, color, value, module and composition. Prerequisite: FA 103. - (credit: 3 - ects: 5)
SCIENCE CORE ELECTIVE
MBG110 INTRODUCTION TO MODERN BIOLOGY
CHEM 111 CHEMISTRY FOR THE PLANET AND THE PLANET
PHYS 180 CONCEPTUAL PHYSICS
GRA 133 LETTERING & INTRODUCTION TO TYPOGRAPHY
Evolution and principles of typography including anatomy of letterform and compositional hierarchy with typographic elements. - (credit: 3 - ects: 5)
ENG 102 ENGLISH AND COMPOSITION II
The central basis of ENG 102 is to consolidate students' academic approach to thinking, reading, speaking and writing and language usage, as initiated in ENG 101. In addition, the ENG 102 course aims to develop the students' abilities to synthesise and evaluate information and conduct basic, independent research. Prerequisite: ELS 101 or ENG 101 or ENG 103. - (credit: 5 - ects: 5)
TURK 102 TURKISH I
This course is the second of a sequence of two courses designed to develop creative writing skills of the students through their own writings in Turkish. It is an active learning course. Students write their own blogs and instructors comment and send feedback about the creativity, content, composition, grammar, spelling and punctuation of the writing regularly. - (credit: 2 - ects: 3)

SECOND ACADEMIC YEAR

AUTUMN SEMESTER

GRA 201 GRAPHIC DESIGN I
Visual thinking, concept development, color theory, gestalt principles, analogue and digital design techniques. Demonstrations, tutorials, extensive studio work and critiques. - (credit: 6 - ects: 8,5)
GRA 211 TYPOGRAPHY I
Typographic design systems, the aesthetic functional and conceptual use of lettering for printing, typographic uses of various visual media and technical methods. - (credit: 3 - ects: 5)
GRA 218 ESSENTIALS OF PHOTOGRAPHY
Introduction to basic principles and techniques of photography covering darkroom techniques and processes. - (credit: 3 - ects: 5)
GRA 225 INTRODUCTION TO VISUAL TECHNIQUES
An introductory course on vector and raster based graphic fundamentals and their applications to various 2-D graphic design items. - (credit: 3 - ects: 5)
HCIV 101 HISTORY OF CIVILIZATION I
Provides background to the origins of early Western civilizations: deals with the nature and spread of the earliest civilizations in the Ancient Near East and the development of civilization in classical and medieval Europe, concerning their political, social, economic and religious life; focuses on the globalization process of the civilization to be culminated in Western Europe. Credit units: 3 ECTS Credit units: 5.
HIST 200 HISTORY OF TURKEY
This course focuses on aspects of Turkey's history with an emphasis on research. It is designed as an interactive course with the objective to investigate events, chronologically short historical periods, as well as historic representations. - (credit: 4 - ects: 6,5)
GE 250 COLLEGIATE ACTIVITIES PROGRAM I
Ground for students to engage in diversity, creativity and commitment outside coursework. Participation in various activities provided mainly by student clubs. Student activity in designing and shaping course as well as monitoring and grading performance. Grading based on points accumulated by participation to activities. Mandatory for four-year students and to be taken in third semester. Prerequisite of GE 251, non-credit, pass/fail course. - (credit: 0 - ects: 1)

SPRING SEMESTER

GRA 202 GRAPHIC DESIGN II
Development of creativity, imagination, visual sensitivity and technical skills through solving a series design problems with variety of media and materials. Prerequisite: GRA 201. - (credit: 6 - ects: 8,5)
GRA 212 TYPOGRAPHY II
The artistic and technical problems of typographic design, typographic layout techniques, letterform design, portfolio studies on logos and signs. Prerequisite: GRA 211. - (credit: 3 - ects: 5)
HCIV 102 HISTORY OF CIVILIZATION II
Provides background to the origins of modern Western civilization: deals with the development of European society from around AD 1500 until the present, concerning the political, social economic and religious life of the West during that period. Credit units: 3 ECTS Credit units: 5.
GRA 317 MOTION DESIGN STUDIO
This course focuses on the concepts of motion design, effective use of motion graphics through; storyboarding, sequential aspects of composition, kinetic images and type and animation basics with today's software usage techniques on time based media principles. Prerequisite: GRA 225. - (credit: 3 - ects: 5)
FA 271 HISTORY OF ART
A chronological survey of the history of art from the Renaissance period to the 21st century. - (credit: 3 - ects: 5)
GE 251 COLLEGIATE ACTIVITIES PROGRAM II
Ground for students to engage in diversity, creativity and commitment outside coursework. Participation in various activities provided mainly by student clubs. Student activity in designing and shaping course as well as monitoring and grading performance. Grading based on points accumulated by participation to activities. Mandatory for four-year students and to be taken in third semester. Prerequisite of GE 251, non-credit, pass/fail course. - (credit: 0 - ects: 1)

THIRD ACADEMIC YEAR

AUTUMN SEMESTER

GRA 301 GRAPHIC DESIGN III
Studio course aiming to improve students' skills and knowledge in visual communication and graphic design so that students become more fluent in the use of visual language and be better acquainted with the dynamics of contemporary graphic design. Prerequisite: GRA 202. - (credit: 6 - ects: 8,5)
GRA 290 SUMMER PRACTICE I
Four weeks practice of offset and/or digital printing. - (credit: 0 - ects: 6)
GRA 341 HISTORY OF GRAPHIC ART
Introduction to the twentieth century graphic design by exploring various movements, philosophies and pioneering figures using a collaborative, thought-provoking format. - (credit: 3 - ects: 5)
FA 361 PHILOSOPHY OF ART I
Philosophical issues that arise concerning the creation, interpretation and viewing of art, since Plato. What is "mimesis"; who is the best judge of art; is art beautiful and good; should art be viewed dis-interestedly. - (credit: 3 - ects: 5)
COMPUTATIONAL CORE ELECTIVE
CS 155 INTERACTIVE MEDIA DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT
CS 155 INTRODUCTION TO DATA ANALYSIS FOR SOCIAL SCIENCES

SPRING SEMESTER

GRA 302 GRAPHIC DESIGN IV
Studio course and continuation of GRA 301 aiming to improve students' abilities to design and refine use of visual language to a more sophisticated level. Subject dealing with complex design issues and helping students to find ways to develop their own personal voice. Prerequisite: GRA 301. - (credit: 6 - ects: 8,5)
GRA 316 INTERFACE DESIGN STUDIO
The course aims for a multi-layered understanding of what an interface means by bridging the gap between its' physical and virtual properties. Sign theory is central to the course; it is introduced as a framework to implement functional web interfaces. Prerequisite: GRA 218. - (credit: 3 - ects: 5)
HUMANITIES CORE ELECTIVE
HART 120 HUMAN EVOLUTION AND WORLD PREHISTORY
HART 221 GREAT DISCOVERIES FROM THE ANCIENT WORLD
HUM 111 CULTURES CIVILIZATION AND IDEAS I
PHIL 101 INTRODUCTION TO LOGIC
PHIL 304 HISTORY AND PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE
PHIL 308 PHILOSOPHY OF MIND
SOCIAL SCIENCE CORE ELECTIVE
PSYC 100 INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY
PSYC 102 INTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY

FOURTH ACADEMIC YEAR

AUTUMN SEMESTER

GRA 401 GRAPHIC DESIGN V
Studio course enabling students to apply their knowledge and skills to advanced graphic design projects. Explored through: studio work, lectures, critiques and with knowledge of the design skills. Prerequisite: GRA 302. - (credit: 6 - ects: 8,5)
GRA 390 SUMMER PRACTICE II
Four weeks practice of experiencing and working at an advertising agency/graphic design and photographic studios. - (credit: 0 - ects: 6)
FA 420 ANALYSIS OF ART WORK
Introduction to critical analysis of works of art by concentrating on the theoretical debates developed around various issues on art theory since the 19th century. - (credit: 3 - ects: 5)
COMD 358 PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION
The goal of the Professional Communication course is to help students from all kinds of academic disciplines to learn about, effectively practice, and ultimately develop professional communication skills and experience that will be useful in both their professional careers and social interactions in interpersonal situations. Credit units: 3 ECTS Credit units: 5.
RESTRICTED ELECTIVE
Please see the list of restricted electives below.

SPRING SEMESTER

GRA 402 GRAPHIC DESIGN VI
Development and execution of final professional long-term graphic design project that includes various different items and media. Prerequisite: GRA 401. - (credit: 8 - ects: 10)
GRA 423 PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
Preparation of fourth-year students to professional graphic design career. Working fields of graphic design, the design firm, design market in Turkey, design ethics, copyright and licensing, presentation of the design work, and preparing a resume and portfolio. - (credit: 3 - ects: 5)
FREE ELECTIVE
Please see the free elective courses list offered by the university. - (credit: 3 - ects: 5)
RESTRICTED ELECTIVE
Please see the list of restricted electives below.

ELECTIVES

Click on the link below to browse through the list of offered restricted electives.

RESTRICTED ELECTIVES

Click on the link below to browse through the list of offered restricted electives.

DOWNLOAD FREE ELECTIVES LIST
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SUMMER PRACTICES GRA290 & GRA390

GRA 290 Summer Practice I

At the end of the second academic year, graphic design majors must complete a summer internship in a printing house or a digital printing center. The aim of this summer practice is to give students on-site experience in production techniques for third year studio courses.

You can access the detailed procedural information & required paperwork along with formatting guidelines in PDF format below.

DOWNLOAD GRA290 PDF
DOWNLOAD GRA290 LAYOUT PDF

GRA 390 Summer Practice II

At the end of the third academic year, students are expected to complete another summer internship in an advertising, design or in-house agency. The aim of this summer practice is to give students knowledge about professional working dynamics to help them with their fourth year studies.

You can access the detailed procedural information & the required paperwork along with formatting guidelines in PDF format below.

DOWNLOAD GRA390 PDF
DOWNLOAD GRA390 LAYOUT PDF
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FACULTY


Erhan Tunalı
Acting Chair
erhan.tunali [at] bilkent.edu.tr
SHORT BIO
RESUME

Birsu Çeltek
FB-119, 290 1448
birsu [at] bilkent.edu.tr
SHORT BIO
RESUME

Efe Alpay
FB-307, 290 1918
efe.alpay [at] bilkent.edu.tr
SHORT BIO
RESUME

Çağatay Alpay
FB-206, 290 1758
cagatayalpay [at] bilkent.edu.tr
SHORT BIO
Çağatay Alpay who is working as motion graphics and design studio instructor, received his bachelor’s degree from Bilkent University, Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture, Department of Graphic Design and his master degree and proficiency in arts degree from Hacettepe University, Faculty of Fine Arts, Department of Graphic. He took place in national and international group exhibitions with his works. Typography, animation and video game technologies are some of his main fields of interest.

Murad Gürzumar
FB-208, 290 1661
gmurat [at] bilkent.edu.tr
SHORT BIO
Gurzumar teaching Image Editing, Basic and advanced photography courses. He was teaching at METU before joining Bilkent University; a graduate of Ankara University and N.Y.I.P New York Institute of Photography. As a professional art director and industrial photographer, he showcased in several national and international exhibitions.

Çavlan Başarır
FB-120,
cavlan [at] bilkent.edu.tr
SHORT BIO
RESUME

Can İzzet Birand
FB-306, 290 1740
canbirand [at] bilkent.edu.tr
SHORT BIO
RESUME

Ekin Kılıç
FBZ-05, 290 2743
ekinklch [at] bilkent.edu.tr
SHORT BIO
RESUME

Marek Brzozowski
FB-205, 290 1739
marek [at] bilkent.edu.tr
SHORT BIO
Marek Brzozowski was born in Bydgoszcz, Poland in 1952. He studied in Academy of Fine Art in Gdansk, Poland, graduating in 1976, with bachelor and master degrees in graphic design. From 1978 to 1989 he lectured graphic design and typography at the mentioned academy. In 2000 he received his Ph.D. at the Academy of Fine Arts in Gdansk. Currently, he lives in Ankara, where he lectures graphic design and illustration at the Faculty of Art, Design and Architectureof Bilkent University. He also continues to paint and exhibit his works locally and internationally.

Atıl Kurttekin
FB-307, 290 1745
atilk [at] bilkent.edu.tr
SHORT BIO
Atıl Kurttekin, who has worked as creative director for international institutions such as the International Organization for Migration and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, he graduated from İ.D. Bilkent University, Faculty of Fine Arts Design and Architecture, Depatment of Graphic Design. Kurttekin is a professional photographer, musician and voice actor. Besides his works in visual communication such as film-production, typography and classical graphic design, he is also interested in the audio arts as well as in science fiction films, books and comics.
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STAFF


Nukhet Büyükoktay
Administrative Assistant
bnukhet [at] bilkent.edu.tr

Ufuk Kaplan
Support Staff
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CONTACT INFORMATION

Bilkent University
FADA,
Graphic Design Department
TR-06800 Bilkent, Ankara, Turkey
Phone: +90 (312) 290 1629
+ 90 (312) 290 1423
Fax: +90 (312) 266 4136
E-mail: gra [at] bilkent.edu.tr
Nükhet Büyükoktay, FB-108
Administrative Assistant
Phone: 290 1629 – 290 1423
E-mail: bnukhet [at] bilkent.edu.tr
Follow the Bilgra life:
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DEPARTMENTAL VISITS

You can visit our department for a Department/Profession Presentation with your family. To see the studios, have a face to face meeting please make an appointment with our Administrative Assistant Office (+90-312-290 1629). Also, we will be glad if you participate our events. Please look up to Bulletin Section or Blog Page for exhibition, seminar, workshop and other events.

You can visit Bilkent Graphic together with your school or your class. To do so, your current school administration should make an appointment with Bilkent University Prospective Students Information Office (+90-312- 290 3412) or Faculty of Fine Arts, Design and Architecture (+90-312-290 1486) for a presentation and a tour.