Dr. Harun Kaygan

Biography

Harun Kaygan is an Associate Professor at the University of Southern Denmark, focusing on the socio-cultural aspects of design practices and the political implications of design objects. His research leverages new materialist frameworks and emphasizes the complexities of design within various cultural contexts. Kaygan has extensively published on topics related to Turkish design, social design activism, and consumer communities. His current investigation concentrates on how design interacts with human bodies across diverse industries including medical design, exhibition design, consumer goods, and public transportation. He is also examining the design of children's playgrounds in educational settings. Supported by the Carlsberg Foundation, Kaygan's project aims at developing a theoretical framework that highlights the concept of 'somatic expertise'—the notion that designers are increasingly concerned with the bodily well-being of users within a societal context driven by neoliberal forces. He maintains strong research interests in gendered design, working with colleagues to explore how designed objects mediate experiences for individuals of varying genders.

Research Interests

Experience