Efecem Kutuk, IDSA
Program Coordinator, Industrial Design, Michael Graves College, Kean University
Efecem Kutuk, IDSA is an academic and designer specializing in social design, sustainability, design entrepreneurship, and commercial products. Kutuk's design background and informed aesthetic are the product of his diverse and international experiences. He has taught at Drexel University, Montclair State University, New Jersey Institute of Technology, and Parsons School of Design. His award-winning work and student projects have been exhibited in design shows and published in design magazines and blogs. Currently, Efecem is an Assistant Professor and the Program Coordinator of ID at Michael Graves College, Kean University. He earned his BFA in Interior Architecture and Environmental Design from Bilkent University in Ankara, Turkey and a MID from SPD in Milan.
Healing Trauma Through Design
Rapid Fire Session
Wed - Sept. 22
4:22 pm EDT
Digital 3D modeling and fabrication tools are used in myriad sectors from education to industry, enabling the creation of prototypes and low or even high-volume production. Given their wide usage, can CAD and CAM be considered to support the transition from a military mindset to a student and eventually to a civilian? Around 20% of veterans adjust just fine, but the majority require support services during and through their transitions. Veterans undergo different stressors that can trigger episodes of PTSD. In addition to traditional counseling, the use of CAD and CAM can help with stress management. Veterans can benefit from design therapy – imagining and creating whatever they want through digital modeling and fabrication. In this ongoing case study, design is a medium used to aid veteran students in stress management, academic continuity, and accomplishing career goals. After the design brief introduction and initial ideation, veterans have been assisted in using 3D modeling software and CAM platforms to create and fabricate their designs. In some cases, assistive devices have been produced to help veterans regain freedom, if suffering from a physical injury. The project is not intended to replace traditional therapy, but rather provide a new type of therapy. The long-term goal of the project is to introduce a remedy for those veterans who are at risk of being placed on probation or dismissed, where solely traditional methods of counseling are not working. The project will be evaluated by reviewing veterans’ grades and timelines for graduation. This data will determine whether this project is having an impact on veterans’ transition to higher education.