On October 3, 2024, Clinical Neuropsychologist and Cognitive Neuroscientist Ekin ACIYİYEN delivered a presentation titled "Beyond the Visible: Pareidolia" as part of the IAED 1001 Interior Design Studio I course's warm-up activity.
Ekin ACIYİYEN deeply examined the concept of pareidolia with the students, explaining how we interpret the shapes we observe and how this interpretation occurs in our brains. Pareidolia is the phenomenon where ambiguous stimuli are attributed to familiar objects by the observer. In this context, the presentation allowed students to enhance their abstract thinking skills.
Following the presentation, students had the opportunity to interpret famous abstract expressionist paintings together, exploring the concepts within these works. During this process, they attempted to understand how the shapes they saw in abstract paintings were interpreted. Using the knowledge they gained, they aimed to photograph shapes and faces they observed on campus and create creative stories in groups of five. It is aimed for students to gain different perspectives that they can use in the Spatial Design Studio I course through knowledge acquired from a different art discipline.
The students successfully carried out steps such as pre-design, quantitative and qualitative programming, schematic design, and design development to manage the design process. This journey allowed them to concretize abstract concepts in interior design while providing an opportunity to express their creativity. Furthermore, they developed creative solutions that emerged from the combination of various perspectives.
This presentation helped students better grasp the balance between aesthetics and functionality in the field of interior architecture. Throughout each stage of the design process, students recognized the importance of observation and interpretation. The perspectives they developed through the concept of pareidolia encouraged them to find more creative and effective solutions in their future projects. While gaining a deep understanding of the relationship between art and design, students also improved their creative thinking skills. This experience demonstrated how integrated visual perception, conceptual thinking, and creative design processes are within interior architecture education.
We extend our gratitude to Clinical Neuropsychologist and Cognitive Neuroscientist Ekin ACIYİYEN for her valuable contributions and the precious insights she shared.
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