Deniz L. Basar

Deniz L. Basar, Ph.D., is a Practitioner in Residence in the Art & Design Department at the University of New Haven's College of Arts and Sciences. With a Ph.D. in Industrial Design from Istanbul Technical University (ITU), she bridges academic research and industry practice through roles in teaching, research, and administrative leadership.

• Ph.D. Industrial Design, Istanbul Technical University, Institute of Science and Technology
• M.Sc. Industrial Design, Istanbul Technical University, Institute of Science and Technology
• B.A. Industrial Product Design (5th graduate degree), Istanbul Technical University, Faculty of Architecture
• Science and Mathematics Major (2nd honor student), Terakki Vakfi Özel Sisli Terakki High School, Istanbul

Basar’s research focuses on cognitive processes in design, user experience psychology, and industry-university collaborations. Her work explores how abstract concepts translate into product forms, integrating Kansei Engineering, emotional design, and creativity theories. She emphasizes design cognition and methodology for SMEs, fostering practical applications.

Her scientific awards include being named 2nd honor student in high school and receiving a TUBITAK International Research Fellowship (2009-10). She has secured grants for projects like IDEA4ISTANBUL (~2M Euros) and a University of New Haven grant for “Word processing in creative problem solving” (2015). Currently, she co-founded Project Thinstone, a stone products company in Istanbul, as a design consultant since 2015.