Designing with Purpose: Industrial Designers’ Day 2025

On June 29th, the design community came together to celebrate a profession that shapes the world around us, Industrial Designers’ Day, hosted by ETMK (Industrial Designers’ Society of Turkey). This year’s event in İstanbul stood out not just for its creative energy, but for the deep and timely theme it embraced: ethics in design.

WearTechClub had the honor of participating in this special gathering of designers, innovators, and changemakers, all exploring one crucial question: How do we ensure our designs serve humanity responsibly?

In today’s rapidly evolving world of technology, the boundaries between product, purpose, and impact are thinner than ever. That’s why, at WearTechClub, we believe every meaningful innovation must begin with a series of thoughtful questions:

• Are we producing responsibly, not just efficiently?

• Are our material and production choices truly sustainable, or simply convenient?

• Are we designing solutions that will matter tomorrow, not just today?

During the panel, our founder Özgül DALKILIÇ took the stage to share WearTechClub’s vision for a more ethical design future, especially in the wearable tech space, where every detail, from sensor placement to data security, has real-life consequences for both individuals and society.

Her talk emphasized that designers are not just makers of form, but stewards of impact. Every decision, from selecting eco-conscious materials to building transparent data policies,  contributes to a system that either empowers or exploits.

“Good design solves problems. Ethical design prevents them.”  Özgül DALKILIÇ

The event served as a powerful reminder that the future of industrial design lies in the hands of those who are bold enough to ask hard questions and design with accountability.

We extend our deepest thanks to ETMK İstanbul, the inspiring speakers, and the entire community of designers who continue to elevate our industry by placing values at the heart of the creative process.

As WearTechClub, we are proud to stand alongside professionals who are not only building for the present but also designing a more just, inclusive, and responsible future. Here’s to every designer who believes ethics is not a constraint, but a compass.

Happy Industrial Designers’ Day!