Sonay Ardi Akkar Email & Phone Number

- Advisory Board, FabriKHAS: A Creative Platform for Screen Industries. Funded by the EU and the Republic of Türkiye, FabriKHAS is carried out by Kadir Has University Creative Industries Platform within the scope of the Competitive Sectors Programme. For more information: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fabrikhas/- Sr. Expert, The Inspire Türkiye Project: Capacity Building for the Proper Transformation of the Creative Economy in Türkiye Project, Sept.-December 2024For more information: linkedin.com/in/inspireturkiye

Istanbul, Turkey

As a member of the Service Design Network, I contribute to curating, engaging, and connecting service designers in Turkey with the global community. This involves organizing networking events and educational programs to foster knowledge sharing and growth in the field of service design.For more information: https://www.service-design-network.org/chapters/turkey

Istanbul, Turkey

My course at Özyeğin University is part of the "Service Design Track" supplement offered alongside the Industrial Design diploma. Through hands-on exercises, I introduce students to the principles of service design, its distinctive approach, and core methodologies. In previous years, I have also taught courses such as Design Process Management and Interaction Design for Products and Services.

Istanbul, Türkiye

My course at Bilgi University attracts senior students from diverse disciplines, including Industrial Design, Architecture, Interior Design, and various engineering fields. Through practical exercises, I introduce them to the principles of service design, its unique approach, and core methodologies.

Türkiye And Uae

At ATÖLYE, part of the kyu Collective, I led impactful experience strategy projects across private and public sectors in Turkey and the UAE, collaborating with global leaders like IDEO, SYPartners, and Tellart. Highlights include leading a design project for Turkey’s first electric vehicle manufacturer, designing holistic user experiences strategies beyond the car itself. I also led key initiatives like CO28 and Union Day 52 Guest Experiences for the UAE government, navigating complex stakeholder relationships and delivering transformative outcomes. Beyond project leadership, I coached multi-disciplinary teams across Istanbul, Dubai, and Lisbon, fostering professional growth and thought leadership within the service design practice.For more information: https://atolye.io/

Partnering in the MIX Progrm (User Experience Design Master Program) For more information: https://mixin-1-yili.webflow.io/

Istanbul, Turkey

As part of establishing the design studio within a newly formed consultancy, I contributed to projects aimed at enhancing customer and stakeholder experiences in Logistics, Retail, and Insurance sectors. A key achievement was reframing a client’s focus from solely improving the Contact Center to addressing broader issues in the customer journey. This approach led to a significant reduction in contact volumes and improved operational efficiency.Additionally, by conducting in-depth research on the Contact Center, I developed tools that enhanced the experience and productivity of customer service agents, ensuring a more effective and seamless workflow.For more information: https://www.dogmaalares.com/

Istanbul, Turkey

At Fiat-Chrysler Group, I conducted user research and experience design initiatives for Fiat, Jeep, Alfa Romeo, and Ferrari, utilizing qualitative and quantitative methods to optimize customer experiences. My research outcomes led to the development of unified tools, such as customer journey maps, to align diverse teams on customer needs. I collaborated with global research firms like Ipsos and Forrester Research to establish measurement models for continuous improvement in user experiences.As a member of Fiat-Chrysler’s innovation team, I facilitated workshops with cross-disciplinary experts to conceptualize new products and services. Partnering with HR teams, I initiated projects to enhance internal employee experiences, while also designing and delivering human-centered design and design thinking training modules for Tofaş Academy, enabling engineers to incorporate these methodologies into their daily work.A key achievement was leading research on customer expectations around vehicle connectivity, which informed the development of Fiat Yol Arkadaşım Connect, the brand's first connected car application.

www.idreporter.com

Event Planning, Conference Organizing

2007- 2008. Working on the Project: "An Interactive Information Hub in Home Health Care".

Master Of Arts - Ma, Service Design

Guest Researcher, Design

Master, Industrial Design

Bachelor Of Arts - Ba, Industrial And Product Design