---
title: "Design thinking shapes the future of İstanbul's neighbourhoods"
date: 2023-10-20T16:22:52Z
modified: 2025-10-17T04:50:19Z
permalink: "https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/city-project/tak-kartal/"
type: city-project
status: publish
excerpt: Tasarım Atolyesi Kartal (‘Design Atelier Kartal’– abbreviated as TAK Kartal) is a creative innovation space that brings together Kartal residents, designers, volunteers, students and supporters to collaboratively create ideas and products for the public good, finding solutions that can improve the quality of life in Kartal
wpid: 168692
tags:
  - Civil Society
  - Cultural Infrastructure
  - Young People
region:
  - istanbul
country:
  - Turkey
city-region:
  - Asia
  - Europe
topic:
  - Communities
  - Economy
  - Public Realm
featured_image: "https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Istanbul-10.jpg"
---

## Social impact and urban design programme ‘Tak Kartal’



![](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Istanbul-10.jpg)

## **The Purpose**

Kartal, an industrial area in İstanbul, hopes to revitalize its former industrial sites and other underused areas. The project, Tasarım Atolyesi Kartal (TAK Kartal), is a creative innovation space for residents, designers, volunteers, students and supporters to collaboratively create ideas and products for the public good.

## **The Challenge**

The challenge of the project is to engage Kartal’s residents, many of whom have little experience of working in groups. The goal is to develop a new relationship between citizens and local government through innovative, mobile spaces and a participatory approach.

> Social Impact Design has been instrumental in the project’s success, using human-centered design principles to develop tangible solutions based on the needs of the community

![](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Istanbul-5.jpg)

## **The Solution**

TAK Kartal includes various spaces provided by the municipality of Kartal, such as studios and mobile design ateliers. It also features portable modular units that serve as meeting points for neighbours. The project has recruited five full-time designers to work on it over two years and offers thirteen design, research, and participation programs developed with contributions from residents and designers.

## **The Impact**

One of the notable programs is “Corner Borders,” which regenerates abandoned places in Kartal with input from residents and designers. The winning projects are funded and implemented by the municipality, leading to positive transformations in the city. TAK Kartal has also initiated a “Shock Corners Borders” program, creating rapid design projects that benefit the community. The project has increased awareness and familiarity with its participatory approach, fostering a new relationship between citizens and local government. Social Impact Design has been instrumental in the project’s success, using human-centred design principles to develop tangible solutions based on the needs of the community. Design thinking may be applied more broadly in the future.

_Source:_ [_World Cities Culture Report 2022_](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/publication/world-cities-culture-forum-report-2022/)

Images Courtesy © City of İstanbul