Education
Istanbul Technical University, Faculty of Architecture, Dept. of Industrial Design
Ph.D., 2013 - 2022
Dissertation Title: Biophilic dimensions in product design and their relationship with user preferences
M.Sc., 2011-2013
Thesis Title: Natural analogy in design: A study on the approach of industrial design students
B.Sc., 2004-2008
Capstone Project with SMEs: Display design for subway advertisement systems
Academic Experience
Assistant Professor (Tenure Track), 2025-Present. Iowa State University, Dept. of Industrial Design
Tutoring: Sophomore-Year Design Studio, Materials & Processes for Industrial Design
Assistant Professor, 2023-2025. Ozyegin University, Dept. of Industrial Design
Tutoring: Design Studio, Service Design Studio, Design as Creative Problem Solving, Introduction to User Experience, Design Research, Critical & Speculative Design, Bio-inspired System Design for Ecology.
Graduate course: Nature-based Approaches in Design Research
Coordinating: Design, Technology, and Society Graduate Studies International Relations (2024-2025)
Instructor, 2018-2023. Istanbul Technical University, Dept. of Industrial Design
Tutoring: Industrial Design Studios, Graduation Project, Foundational Studio, Materials & Manufacturing Methods, Fundamentals of Design Thinking, Seeing in Design, Bio-inspired Design.
Coordinating: Graduation Projects (2021-2023)
Research & Teaching Assistant, 2012-2018. Istanbul Technical University, Dept. of Industrial Design
Assisting: Industrial Design Studios, Graduation Project, Basic Design, Design History I & II, History of Art
Research & Teaching Assistant, 2010-2012. Okan University, Dept. of Industrial Design
Assisting: Industrial Design Studios, Graduation Projects, Computer-Aided Design, Materials and Manufacturing Techniques, History of Design, Design and Brand, Urban Furniture Design, Sustainability in Design.
Industrial Designer, 2008-2010. RYO Design Furniture and Decoration - Istanbul, Turkey.
Designing: Upholstered and panel furniture, rendering and presenting the decoration ideas, and preparing the manufacturing spec sheets.
Publications
Boğa, M. (in review). Learning from Nature: Bio-Inspired Speculative Design as an Agonistic Approach to Raise Ecological Awareness Among Younger Generations.
Ilbay, E. Boga, E., & Baykal, G. E. (2025). Exploring the Role of Cross-stitch Craft in Development of Children’s Computational Thinking: An Unplugged Approach. In Proceedings of the 24th Interaction Design and Children (IDC '25). Association for Computing Machinery, New York, NY, USA, 923–926. https://doi.org/10.1145/3713043.3731507
Ilbay, E. & Boga, M. (2025). Sürdürülebilirlik için kültürel miras: Kanaviçeden ilhamla bir sistem önerisi ve egitim aracı tasarımı [Cultural heritage for Sustainability: A system proposal and education material design inspired by cross-stitch]. In Eds. (F. Korkut, N. A. G. Z. Börekçi, & M. Şengül Öztürk. UTAK 2024 Bildiri Kitabı: Kovadis, Tasarım? [UTAK 2024 Proceedings Book: Design, Where to?]ODTÜ Mimarlık Fakültesi Yayınları [METU Faculty of Architecture Publishing]
Boga, M. (2023). In pursuit of a biophilic dialect: The case of mucilage in the Marmara Sea. In C. May (Ed.), Proceedings of Relating Systems Thinking and Design RSD12: Entangled Emergence. https://rsdsymposium.org/biophilic-dialectmarmara-sea/
Boga, M., Turan, G., & Cetinkaya, H. (2022). Biophilic dimensions of products and their effects on user preferences. A|Z ITU Journal of the Faculty of Architecture, 19(2), 353-369. doi: 10.5505/itujfa.2022.76892
Gelmez, K., Boga, M., Efilti, P., Özturan, E., & Yilmaz, O. (2021, April). Dogadan ilhamla ambalaj tasarimi: ITÜ’den örnekler [Nature inspired packaging design: Examples of ITU projects]. Ambalaj Dünyası [Packaging World], 35(177), 76-77.
Boga, M., Turan, G. (2018). Biophilic product design: A bio-inspired approach to user preferences. In G. Getzinger (Eds.), Critical issues in science, technology and society studies: Sustainable and innovative public procurement and ecodesign (pp. 116–129). Verlag der Technischen Universität Graz. https://doi.org/10.3217/978-3-85125-625-3.
Boga-Akyol, M., Timur-Ogut, S. (2016). Exploring Biomimicry in the Students’ Design Process. Design and Technology Education: an International Journal, 21(1), 21-31.
Boga, M. (2013). Tasarimda dogal analoji: Endüstri ürünleri tasarimi ögrencilerinin yaklasimi üzerine bir çalisma [Natural analogy in design: A study on the approach of industrial design students]. (Master’s thesis). Institute of Science and Technology, Istanbul Technical University, Istanbul, Turkiye.
Presentations
Boga, M. (2024, November 15). A Biophilic Approach to Cultural Ecosystem Services: The Case of Serra da Estrela Geopark. [Special Meeting presentation]. Design Research Society Designing Change Special Interest Group Special Meeting 2024, Remote.
Boga, M. (2024, October 14-15). Mountain Conservation Inspired by Metaphors. [Workshop presentation]. Mountains for Sustainability Workshop by SHiFT Cost Action & Estrela UNESCO Global Geopark, Manteigas, Portugal
Boga, M. (2024, September 12-13). Bio-inspired Design: A Multidisciplinary Approach for Fostering Ecological Empathy. [Conference presentation]. Envisioning Actionable Transformation for Climate Resilience and Societal Change through Transdisciplinary Dialogues, Zagreb, Croatia.
Boga, M. (2024, June 21). Designing for Cultural Heritage for Sustainability: Bridging Theory and Practice in Design Practices. [Conference presentation]. Memories for a Sustainable Future Symposium, Lisbon, Portugal
Boga, M. (2023, October 6-20). In pursuit of a biophilic dialect: The case of mucilage in the Marmara Sea. [Conference presentation]. Related Systems Thinking and Design Symposium, RSD12: Entangled in Emergence, Various Countries & Online.
Boga, M. (2023, September 18-19). A Biosemiotic perspective to eco-centric communication design. [Conference presentation]. Reflections on Transformation: Shaping the Future, Transcending Disciplinary Silos and Exploring 'Lived' Knowledge Systems, Graz, Austria.
Boga, M., Turan, G. (2018, May 7-8). Biophilic product design: A bio-inspired approach to user preferences. [Conference presentation]. 17th STS Conference: Critical Issues in Science, Technology and Society Studies, Graz, Austria.
Boga, M. & Timur-Ögüt, S. (2015, June 28-30). Exploring biomimicry in the students' design process. [Conference presentation]. LearnxDesign: 3rd International Conference on Design Research and Education, Chicago, IL, USA.
Boga, M. & Timur-Ögüt, S. (2014, September 11-13). Natural analogy in design: A study on the approach of industrial design students. [Conference presentation]. AIGA Design Educator's Conference: New ventures: Intersections in design education, Portland, OR, USA.
Boga, M. (2013, November 7-9). Biophilic design for wellbeing: The effects of primitive user preferences on product design. [Conference presentation abstract]. Cumulus Dublin Conference: More for Less - Design in an Age of Austerity, Dublin, Ireland.
Administrative Experience
Liaison Council Member, 2025-... Iowa State University College of Design
Curriculum Committee Member, 2025-... Iowa State University Dept. of Industrial Design
Graduate Studies Committee Member, 2025-... Iowa State University Dept. of Industrial Design
Inspector of Design Centers, 2024-2025. Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Industry and Technology
Outreach Coordinator, 2024-2025. SHiFT CA YRC- Social Sciences and Humanities for Transformation and Climate Resilience, Cost Action, Young Researchers Council
Circular Economy Working Group Member, 2024-2025. Ozyegin University Sustainability Platform
University-Industry Collaboration Working Group Member, 2024-2025. Ozyegin University Dept. of Industrial Design
Strategic Planning and Improvement Working Group Member, 2024-2025. Ozyegin University Dept. of Industrial Design
Bursary Committee Member, 2019-2023. Istanbul Technical University Faculty of Architecture
Student Transfer Committee Member, 2018-2020. Istanbul Technical University Faculty of Architecture
Library Collection Project Member, 2015-2018. Istanbul Technical University
IDA Education Conference* Secretariat, 2013. Istanbul Technical University Dept. of Industrial Design
*The Conference had to be canceled at the last minute due to national security issues.
Bologna Accreditation Committee Member, 2010-2012. T. C. Okan University, Faculty of Fine Arts
Exhibition Organization Secretariat and Competition Reporter, 2007. ETMK (Industrial Designers Society of Turkey) - Tasarimla Kazananlar (Winners by Design) Awards
Undergraduate Courses in Collaboration with Industry
Swissôtel the Bosphorus. 2024. Hospitality and Guest & Employee Experience, Ozyegin University, Design for Interactions and Services Studio.
FIBA Retail. 2024. Experience Design for Sustainable Behavior, Ozyegin University, Introduction to Experience Design, Elective Course.
FIBABank. 2024. Experience Design for Sustainable Behavior, Ozyegin University, Introduction to Experience Design, Elective Course.
Invited Talks/Seminars
- Learning from Nature: Cultivating a Life-Centered Mindset in Design Education. 2025. Invited by SHiFT Cost Action Young Researchers Council to the Webinar: Universities as Agents of Sustainability: The Role of Young Researchers and the Humanities in Driving Transformative Change.
- Biophilic Dimensions of Products and Their Effects on User Preferences. 2022. Invited by Assist. Prof. Dr. Özge Çelikoglu to the course EUT501E Design Research Methods - Graduate Course
- Data Collection in Industrial Design and Statistical Analysis. 2021, 2022, 2023. Invited by Assist. Prof. Dr. Özge Çelikoglu to the course EUT206E Statistics - Undergraduate Course
- What is Bio-inspired Design, and what is not? 2019, 2022. Invited to Architectural Design Studio and Foundational Studio courses.
- Design Thinking. 8th of July, 2020. Invited by Chamber of Computer Engineers of Turkiye, Adana Branch.
Workshops
- Participatory Design Workshops. 2025. Seed research project sessions. Bio-inspired character design and speculative narrative developments for ecological awareness and environmental education.
- Participatory Design Workshop. 2025. Developing a communication strategy with the SHiFT Cost Action members for the Communication Strategy (the SHiFT Stage Project).
- Sustainable Design Workshop. 2024. Invited by CREA Centers Çekmeköy for tutoring workshop within the organization of EU-supported Erasmus+ KA210 Project Classrooms for Future: A Sustainable Environment for a Better Education
Guest Lecturer
- Wild Ideas: Nature’s Lessons for Creative Design. 2026. Iowa State University Honors Seminar Program.
- Design Thinking. 2024-2025. Ozyegin University Lifelong Learning Academy.
- Biomimetics. 2020. Tutored by Prof. Dr. Kerem Pekkan at Dept of Mechanical Engineering, Koç University.
- Basic Design for Vocational High Schools. 2017. Held by The Economic Policy Research Foundation.
Reviewer & Mentorship
Scientific Board Member: Studi’OU Journal of Art and Design (Okan University International Academic Journal, Turkey)
Mentor: BioDesign Challenge (BDC) 2026 Mentoring for the student groups joined to the Challenge.
Judge: SSTFI 2026 Iowa State Science and Technology Fair: Judge for Behavioral Science Projects
Reviewer: Co-Design International Journal of CoCreation in Design and the Arts (Taylor & Francis)
Reviewer: Artium Journal (Peer-reviewed Academic Journal, DergiPark, Turkey)
Reviewer: UTAK 2024 Kovadis, Tasarım?: METU Dept. of Industrial Design - National Design Research Conference (Bi-annual)
Reviewer: RSD13 Rivers of Conversations 2024: Relating Systems Thinking and Design Conference
Reviewer: Cumulus Antwerp 2023 Conference: Connectivity and Creativity in Times of Conflict Track: Nature Positive/Design for Transformation
Reviewer: Nordes 2023 The 10th Nordic Design Research Society (Nordes) Conference. Workshop Proposals
Mentor: 2019 - Present. Sabancı Foundation Mentornity - Mentorship for the Sabancı Foundation Scholars
Supervisor & Thesis Committee Member
MSc Thesis Supervisor (2025- Ongoing). Coded in Cultural Heritage: Designing “Unplugged” Computational Thinking Material Inspired by Cross-stitch, by Elif Ilbay. Ozyegin University, Design, Technology, and Society Program.
PhD Thesis Committee Member. 2025. Architectural narratives and visitor experience: A multilayered study of Three Art Museums in Istanbul, by Ezgi Cicek. Ozyegin University, Design, Technology, and Society Program.
MSc Thesis Defense Committee Member. 2024. Aleatoric processes in design education: Investigating students' reflections on play-design relationship, by Ece Atacan. Istanbul Technical University, Industrial Design Program.
MSc Thesis Defense Committee Member. 2024. Investigating design research deliverables as communication tools between designer and design researcher, by Beste Tanriverdi Kose. Istanbul Technical University, Industrial Design Program.
Membership
Co-Living Design Lab: Co-Living Design Lab Collective - May 2026 - Present
DRS Design Research Society - Member - August 2024 - Present.
Roots & Shoots Turkey Branch - Oversight Committee Member - November 2023 - Present.
CliMent CA - Climate change impacts on mental health in Europe Cost Action - Working Group 4: Long-term strategies of community of practice: enabling sustainability - December 2024-Present.
SHiFT CA- Social Sciences and Humanities for Transformation and Climate Resilience COST Action - 4 Working Groups - April 2023 - Present
Grants
- Iowa State University, Center of Excellence in Arts and Humanities (CEAH) Research Grant - Revisiting Biophilic Product Dimensions: Semantic Dimension
- Iowa State University, Institute for Design Research and Outreach (IDRO) Signature Theme Networking Grant - A Playful Ecological Awareness: Bio-inspired Speculative Design as a Design-Based Learning Case
- Ozyegin University Seed Research Funding Program - Bio-inspired character and game design for ecological awareness and environmental education.
- SHiFT Virtual Mobility Grant - Developing Communication Strategy for SHiFT Stage.
-Ph.D. Research Fund - Biophilic qualities of products- Istanbul Technical University Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit
Certificates
RENAC The Renewables Academy AG & Istanbul Policy Center: Co-Benefits of Renewable Energy for Turkey, 2019
Renewable Energy Sources: Employment and Industrial Development Opportunities
Methods & Tools for Ambitious NDCs and Climate Change Mitigation - Co-Benefits of Renewable Energy for Turkey
Sustainable Power System Planning for Turkey - Co-Benefits of Renewable Energy for Turkey
Software skills
Microsoft Word, Excel, Powerpoint
MacOS Pages, Numbers, Keynote
Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, XD
3D Modeling Rhinoceros
Statistics SPSS27
Language skills
Turkish Native
English Fluent
German Low-Intermediate
Spanish Low-Intermediate
Danish Beginner
French Beginner
Interests
Nature observation Volunteer of Aras Bird Station
Kuzey Doga Nature Conservation Center
Scuba diving 2* CMAS Diver
Sailing Amateur, 2nd level
Basketball Former licensed player
Dancing Solo Jazz