Sevgi Orak
S. Orak - Interior Design without borders: the IMIAD journey at SUPSI
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Sevgi Orak is a Graduate Student in International Interior Architectural Design at ITU Istanbul. She embraces an ongoing process of learning and exploration in her work driven by the belief that architecture is an infinite field of inquiry.
IMIAD – the International Master of Interior Architectural Design – is a specialized master’s program in interior architecture that fosters the exchange of cultural and professional perspectives among students from diverse design backgrounds. As part of the curriculum, each student is required to complete a mobility semester during the second term at one of the partner universities outside their home institution.
In this context, we spoke with Sevgi Orak, a student from Istanbul Technical University, who spent her spring semester at SUPSI as part of the IMIAD exchange program, to hear her thoughts on the experience
IMIAD – the International Master of Interior Architectural Design – is a specialized master’s program in interior architecture that fosters the exchange of cultural and professional perspectives among students from diverse design backgrounds. As part of the curriculum, each student is required to complete a mobility semester during the second term at one of the partner universities outside their home institution.
In this context, we spoke with Sevgi Orak, a student from Istanbul Technical University, who spent her spring semester at SUPSI as part of the IMIAD exchange program, to hear her thoughts on the experience
What motivated you to join the IMIAD program?
I believe that imagination requires knowledge. Accordingly, my interest extends beyond merely encountering new places to understanding the ways in which diverse cultures think about, live in, and design their spaces. The IMIAD program provided me with an academic opportunity that expanded my design perspective. Observing how interior architecture responds to human needs across various countries revealed the value of diverse viewpoints. It allowed me to approach design on a more universal level. This experience broadened my thinking and gave new momentum to my creative vision.
What were the main differences you noticed between studying design in Turkey and at SUPSI?
My education in Turkey emphasizes conceptual thinking, aesthetic sensitivity, and technical knowledge. At SUPSI, the focus extends to direct engagement with materials and realizing ideas in physical form. Design development relies not solely on cognitive reasoning but significantly on embodied practice and sensory interaction. Students here do not only generate ideas but also physically experience and embody their designs.
Is there a specific project or experience at SUPSI that particularly inspired or impacted you?
The tactile experience of placing cement into tiles demonstrated the power of transforming design from a mental concept into a physical product. My understanding of the interplay between intuition and knowledge in interior architecture expanded through active observation, tactile involvement, and lived experience rather than solely through cognitive processes.
One of the factors that reinforced this experience was SUPSI’s natural environment. Creating within a setting framed by the mountains’ boundaries against the sky and the tranquility of nature nurtures intellectual depth. Moreover, Ticino embodies diversity not only architecturally but also in lifestyle. Encountering different architectural styles on the same street and multiple languages and cultural identities simultaneously illustrates that space is not merely a physical concept but also a socio-cultural one.
What advice would you give to other Turkish (or international) students considering the IMIAD program?
Students should extend their focus beyond academic settings to include everyday environments such as city streets, transit views, and market layouts. This program offers more than an academic curriculum; it is a cultural, linguistic, and sensory experience. A shadow or a small detail can teach more than a drawing. Approaching this journey with openness and careful observation is the key to unlocking its full potential.
Wishing to cross paths with SUPSI once more. Thanks to my instructors Giuliano Gavin, Sebastiano Bagutti, Giancarlo Gianocca and Andrea Gallo for her support.