GIFT GIVING CULTURE IN UNIVERSITY AND DESIGNING GIFT OBJECTS THROUGH CORPORATE VALUES

Abstract

Corporate cultural objects are designed to be given as gifts which represent the cultural characteristifs of that particular corporation. While gifts of a university are possibly designed and produced through its collective knowledge of art design and technology this production is a remarkable tool projecting values of the university. In this respect this research is conducted as a design project with the method of practice-based research. In this article not only the process and outcomes of the project is shared but also the following issues are questioned: What is the role of the object in gift giving? If gift giving in our daily life is personal how can corporate gifts reflect its corporational values? How could cultural objects of a university that reflect its institutional culture and values be designed? How could these designed objects become visible? This research is based on the idead that products' design value reinforces corporate belonging and aims to create an exemplary model for the production of university gift objects by turning academic studio works into products contributing to sustainable local production methods through collaboration with contemporary design.