Zeynep Karapars

Zeynep Karapars is an Assistant Professor at the Graduate School of Engineering and Science, Özyeğin University. She holds a PhD in Industrial Product Design from Middle East Technical University (2013), an M.Sc. in Industrial Product Design (2004), and a B.Sc. in Economics from Bilkent University (1997).

Education:

• B.Sc. Economics, Bilkent University, 1997
• M.Sc. Industrial Product Design, Middle East Technical University, 2004
• PhD Industrial Product Design, Middle East Technical University, 2013

Research Interests: User experience evolution, service design, long-term user research, and human-centered design methodologies. Her work bridges academia and industry, focusing on usability testing, product design, and UX strategies for sectors like healthcare, automotive, and e-commerce.

Professional Experience:

• 2009–2013: Lecturer at TOBB University of Economics & Technology (courses: User Research, Design Management, Marketing for Designers)
• 2004–2013: Researcher at METU Product Usability Unit (academic/industry projects)
• 2009–2013: UX Lead at METU Technopolis consultancy firm (projects for local/international firms)
• 2014–Present: UX Manager at Markafoni e-commerce company (Istanbul)

Labs/Teams: Collaborates with interdisciplinary teams on service design and UX projects, emphasizing real-world applications in consumer electronics, banking, and healthcare.