You are cordially invited to the presentation on Creative Cognition, Interactive Systems & Human–AI Collaboration by Dr. Zafer Bilda.
Speaker: Dr. Zafer Bilda
Bio: Dr. Zafer Bilda is a design leader and creative strategist with over 20 years of experience shaping digital services across the health, finance, telecommunications, and government sectors. He holds a PhD in Design Cognition from the University of Sydney, an MFA in Interior Architecture and Environmental Design from Bilkent University, and a BSc in Chemical Engineering from Middle East Technical University.
He developed his Creative Engagement Model through practice-based research at UTS’s Creativity and Cognition Studios, working alongside interactive artists to understand how people experience and interact with creative technologies. This foundation in human–computer interaction and creative practice informs his approach to service design, UX strategy, and AI-powered product development.
As the founder of Desidero and former co-founder of Morfeu AI, Zafer continues to explore the intersection of creativity, technology, and human need, creating intuitive systems that enable people and organizations to evolve together.
“Creative Cognition, Interactive Systems & Human–AI Collaboration”
Abstract: This presentation traces my research journey across design cognition, interactive systems, and human–AI creative collaboration, outlining how these strands have evolved into a coherent academic programme. I will begin by revisiting my PhD work on mental imagery and sketching, followed by my postdoctoral research at the Creativity & Cognition Studios on interactive art and creative engagement. Drawing on more than a decade of industry experience in UX, service design, and AI product development, I will show how real-world practice has informed my current research agenda. The talk concludes with an overview of my ongoing work on Creative Symbiosis—an empirical, practitioner-centered investigation into how creators collaborate with AI—and my upcoming publications and plans for developing this research further within an academic context.
Date: 28 November 2025, Friday
Time: 14:30
Place: FB 309