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The Global Design Forum, previously held for over 15 years at London's Victoria & Albert Museum, will be hosted at Topkapi Palace in Istanbul for the first time from May 13-16.
The forum, in collaboration with the London Design Festival, unites global design communities and connects culture, art, design, and the creative industries.
Artistic Director Melek Zeynep Bulut told Anadolu Agency (AA) that the main goal of bringing the forum to Istanbul is to connect Türkiye's cultural, artistic, and creative environment with the international stage and enable direct engagement.
"We believe in this city and its dynamics, in the people who produce here," Bulut said. "We imagine that telling the world about this potential will create a significant impact."
Bulut noted that the event extends beyond the forum, structured around four main sections.
The core of the event is a two-day forum with about 12 sessions focused on design's global responsibilities. Bulut described it as a platform for artists, designers, and participants from Türkiye to engage with international architects, artists, and cultural investors.
"While wars, migrations, and mass traumas persist, what is design's responsibility and impact? What can designers contribute, and what progress has already been made?" Bulut said. "These questions require a research and development platform."
"We support these discussions with additional elements, including an installation program focused on space-making. How can we present Türkiye's material and craft culture in a contemporary context? We can pose questions and seek answers, but only time will show their impact. Our responsibility is to ask the right questions and conduct the necessary research."
In the "Rethinking" section, Bulut said the event will revisit discussions on garden culture.
"We are considering a competition to reclaim streets for children, especially in lower-income neighborhoods, by creating recreational spaces and reviving garden culture," she said.
"This area requires expertise and sustainability. We believe a competition, proposal, or discussion during the forum could highlight its importance."
Bulut also emphasized Istanbul's living cultural heritage, which extends beyond its historical legacy.
"Distinguished individuals who have contributed significantly to the world will attend," she said. "Istanbul's cultural heritage is not only historical; its contemporary culture is equally important. We will showcase these contributions at 40 locations throughout the city, working with local storytellers to highlight Istanbul's creative memory. This work is valuable, and I believe the forum will support it meaningfully."
Bulut described the program as a collective experience, emphasizing the interconnectedness of its elements, from installations to discussions.
"We are focused on dynamic connections throughout the program and how new projects can emerge from these relationships," she said. "This will be a shared experience for all participants."
Bulut, whose artistic practice centers on installations, discussed Türkiye's rich tradition of craft and materials.
"Speaking specifically about Istanbul — though I mean Türkiye more broadly — this is one of the richest places when it comes to craft, workmanship, material, and practical thinking, and bringing those together aesthetically," she said.
"As people who come from here, we must tell the world about this with confidence. We must live it ourselves. We must experience it ourselves. This is a subject we are already deeply passionate about. We believe in ourselves here. We believe in everyone who produces here, and we strive to produce what is good."
Alongside the forum, exhibitions and special design projects will take place at various locations across the city. Istanbul-based designers will contribute visual and audio projects to the event.
Global Design Forum Istanbul is organized in partnership with People & Places & Ideas (PPI), a platform based in Istanbul and London and founded by Bulut.
The event will unite designers, artists, architects, technology experts, curators, academics, and city and cultural administrators.
The forum, held at Topkapi Palace and developed with content adviser Beatrice Galilee, will feature two days of sessions, presentations, and discussions under the theme "Worlds in Contact," connecting international and local designers.
Instead of seeking a universal language, the forum views design as a practice that acknowledges diverse ways of living, knowing, and producing, especially in societies facing challenges such as ecological, technological, migratory, resource, and inequality issues.
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