Dr Elif Şener

Profile

My academic journey started at İzmir University of Economics in Turkey, where I pursued a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Communication Design. My quest for a deeper understanding of interactive typographic applications led me to Sabancı University, where I completed my Master of Fine Arts in Visual Arts & Visual Communication Design. My master's project, "MoodFace," was an early exploration into the blend of technology and design, examining the visualization of keystroke dynamics to extract affect.

In 2018, I was honored with a Fulbright Scholarship to pursue a Ph.D. in Design at North Carolina State University in the USA. My doctoral research focused on "The Effect Of Spatially Distributed Typographic Layout And Egocentric Navigation Of Text On Recognition Memory And Location Recall Of Information (In Virtual Reality)." This project reflects my commitment to understanding how virtual reality can intersect with design to improve user experience and learning. In addition to my studies, I have been privileged to share my knowledge as an instructor at NC State University and currently as a lecturer at the University of Leeds.

Throughout my career, I've also engaged in roles that span beyond the academic and into the heart of design innovation and collaboration. My journey has been a mix of academic, research-intensive, and practical, hands-on experiences that enrich my understanding of the ever-evolving landscape of design and technology.

Responsibilities

• Lecturer of MA Design

Research interests

In the broad sense, my research interest is in investigating the influence of experience–oriented and technology–driven paradigms and practices on our interactions with complex information systems. More specifically,  I specialized in understanding the role of typography and how it can be enhanced as a –historically overlooked– member of virtual ecosystems. Typography is situated at the crossroads between language, technology, and culture, yet its potential is concealed by tradition and a lack of methodological rigor and theoretical grounding within the discipline. In my practice and research, I have been invested in forging new routes for the typographic expression of the language. For that, I started with creating two-dimensional, static forms, and gradually implemented interactive and generative applications. For example, my master's project, Moodface, is an online platform that visualizes the underlying experience of typing on a keyboard by reducing typing into small action components that can carry affective information. Those components were (1) typing speed, which increases the point size of letterforms as users type faster (and vice versa), (2) typing accuracy, which distorts letterforms if a typo is made, and (3) typing flow/rigidness, which visualizes the pauses in the typing process by increasing leading over time. With my Ph.D., I focused on three-dimensional reading and created a Virtual Reality book prototype. I took an empirical approach and compared participants' recognition and recall memory performances using a mixed-methods approach. Results suggested that when the self and the information co-exist in the same space, readers processed VR typography architecturally using their visuospatial abilities. 

I am mainly looking at the intersection of design, technology, and user experience, with a specific focus on virtual reality (VR) and its implications for design practices and user interaction. My work also extends to immersive analytics, exploring how VR and 3D visualizations can transform data analysis and presentation from a user-centered design perspective. Through my research, I strive to contribute to the democratization of XR technologies, ensuring they are accessible and beneficial in educational, professional, and everyday contexts.
 

Qualifications

• Ph.d in Design, North Carolina State University
• MFA in Visual Arts & Visual Communication Design, Sabancı University
• BFA in Visual Communication Design, İzmir University of Economics