Güvenç Özel
Lecturer
Güvenç Özel is a cyberphysical architect and critical technologist. Before founding his design practice Ozel Office, he worked in the architecture offices of Frank Gehry, Rafael Vinoly, Juergen Mayer and others. His work investigates how contemporary technology and media shapes the socio-political and aesthetic landscape of digital culture. His recent award-winning projects, ranging from large scale robotic sculptures to VR installations, were featured by CNN, BBC, Euronews, Los Angeles Times, Boston Globe, Huffington Post and Wired. His works were exhibited in venues such as Istanbul Modern, Saatchi Gallery London and SXSW. His curatorial intervention at the Venice Architecture Biennale in 2014 was the first architectural and artistic application of Augmented Reality in the world. His most recent Mixed Reality installation “Persuasion Machines,” investigating the architectural implications of surveillance capitalism, was exhibited at Sundance Film Festival and listed by Hillary Clinton as “not to be missed.” Ozel’s research, which is supported by leading tech companies and organizations such as Google, Autodesk, Microsoft and NASA uses Extended Reality (XR,) artificial intelligence, interactive sensor systems and robotics to create objects, experiences and environments that are synchronized and responsive to human presence and senses. Özel was recently listed as one of the most influential Turkish people in the USA.
