You are kindly invited to a lecture organized by the Department of Interior Architecture and Environmental Design.
Speakers:
Karen Stone, Adjunct Associate Professor, Pratt Institute
Münire Kırmacı, Visiting Instructor, Pratt Institute
Title: “Design Stories”
Date: February 3, 2026, Tuesday
Time: 12.30-13.20
Place: FF Building, FB22
Abstract
This lecture will focus on design education and professional practice experiences with distinct, yet overlapping perspectives. Münire Kırmacı will share reflections on her academic and professional journey, from her education at the Interior Architecture and Environmental Design Department at Bilkent University, through graduate studies and her career as a design professional and educator. Karen Stone will present insights from her long-standing experience at Knoll, highlighting design processes and selected collaborative projects with internationally recognized designers and architects, including Frank Gehry, Asymptote Architects, and David Adjaye.
Short Bios
Karen Stone is a designer and educator with over thirty years of professional experience. Formerly Director of Design at Knoll, Inc., she led the design of global showrooms, retail spaces, and exhibitions. Her award-winning work has been published in Domus, ID, and Interiors. She is an Adjunct Professor of Industrial Design at Pratt Institute, teaching Three-Dimensional Design and Furniture Design. She is a recipient of the Rowena Reed Kostelow Professional Design Award (2021).
Münire Kırmacı is an internationally recognized designer and educator with degrees from Bilkent University, RIT, and Pratt Institute. Her work has been exhibited and collected by institutions such as MoMA, the Guggenheim Museum, and the Walker Art Museum, and featured at platforms including Ambiente Frankfurt and Tokyo Design Week. Her practice explores materiality, narrative, and social impact through collaborations with leading designers, brands, and institutions, including Knoll, Birsel+Seck, Ralph Lauren, and prominent museums worldwide.