It is really hard to believe that we, as the Department of Industrial Design, are graduating our 16th graduates. In one of the most beautiful songs of Grateful Dead, there is a line which says "what a long strange trip it’s been", which in a sense accurately describes the process leading up to this year's graduation. I have to admit, it gives me a very personal and privileged happiness to be sharing this trip from the very beginning in a world that is getting more and more strange and interesting each day. The young people we graduated this year went through a design education process under many challenging conditions such as a pandemic that affected the whole world and natural disasters in our country, as well as processes with multidimensional effects and consequences from artificial intelligence to digital transformation. Despite the adverse conditions, the efforts of these young people to take part in the design world has been a source of pride for us and a very valuable educational experience for them. When I look at each one of them one by one, I see valuable individuals who should be considered an asset for this world, and professional young designers who will achieve successes that will make us all proud. However, this is never enough. Creating a carefully constructed and passionate life philosophy as well as raising professionally knowledgeable, skilled and qualified professionals has always been and will continue to be one of the most important goals of the design education that we provide at our Department of Industrial Design. Dear alumni; I congratulate all of you and wish you to know that Izmir University of Economics, Faculty of Fine Arts and Design, Department of Industrial Design will always be your permanent address in your future lives. May your path be clear for all...

Asst. Prof. Can ÖZCAN Department Head of Industrial Design