in Academia, Arts and Culture,
and Civil Society
sociology :: digital humanities :: inclusion
Hi, I’m Elif, a sociologist with a PhD in [digital] humanities, specialized in data-driven information production.
My work brings together research, (digital) content creation/curation, and public dissemination by applying a 360-degree data-driven information production approach. It’s a methodology transforming data into authentic narratives, delivered across multiple mediums, and tailored for diverse audiences—both digital and non-digital.

elif çiğdem artan, phd
portfolio*
#SelectedProjects
Migrant Women’s Memory Box
DFG Doctoral Fellowship
Vehbi Koç Foundation M.A. Fellowship
2022/23 Mercator-IPC fellowship
anti-racist feminist policy-making
#WritingForVariousAudiences
Critical Insights on Autonomous Archiving, Intersectional Feminism,
and Participatory Museology
#SpeakingAtDiverseLevels
Critical Discussions on History-Writing, Gender Equality,
and Inclusive Museum
#ParticipatoryCuratorship
publications
I coordinated and edited 4 bilingual publications in TR/GER that highlight the experiences of women immigrated from Turkey to Germany.
These books were created in a participatory process through workshops, making sure the voices of women—often left out of migration history—are recorded.
My scholarly and professional experience in autonomous archiving and intersectional research guided effectively these publications, turning community stories into lasting records as information resources for future actions—for social impact on future research, publication, and political and daily narratives.
exhibitions
I curated two participatory exhibition projects with GKB-migrant women to reconfigure patriarchal stereotypes of ‘migrant’ and ‘woman,’ by opening the stage to migrant women to tell their own narratives—in the face of institutional and structural migration history in Germany:
ABC of the Federal Germany Migrant Women’s Association: A Female Dictionary: A community-built collection of entries reflecting on the association’s experiences in socio-political, economical and cultural domains.
The World from a Female Perspective: A retrospective look at the association’s 12-year-long fighting for equal rights in Germany.
My problem-solver embracing ALL within an intersectional feminist pedagogy approach enhanced these projects’ management into power-sharing by engaging more than 200 women in total—from different regions of the country.
What if goodreads were as colorful as the literature?
Redesigning the goodreads app with a “themes” option
In the realm of literature, the conventional association of reading with me-time, nature, and tranquility has often inspired designs featuring hues of green and beige and their calming tones. However, literature itself is a vibrant spectrum, from the texts within books to their colorful covers. For my inaugural individual UX/UI design project at the Iron Hack BootCamp, I’ve opted to redesign the well-known native mobile app goodreads. This case study unfolds the journey of the vibrant “pop mode” I envisioned for goodreads.
gradmindfull: Empower your academic journey with like-minded people
Discover a holistic approach to student wellness that fosters productivity, creativity, and self-care within a supportive community — all within a single, intuitive iOS app tailored exclusively for students.
In today’s fast-paced world, where physical and mental well-being have gained paramount importance, the need for wellness apps is more apparent than ever. While many such apps offer guidance on exercise, sleep, and mindfulness, there’s a distinct gap when it comes to catering to the unique challenges faced by students. Enter gradmindfull: the all-in-one solution designed to help students relax, feel empowered, and succeed in their academic journey alongside like-minded peers. This case study unravels the story of my varied roles throughout the product design process, which I undertook for my solo UX/UI design project at the Iron Hack BootCamp.
Rediscovering Tranquility: Crafting a Digital Façade for El molí de Can Aulet
Engaging with Nature in UX/UI Design for Rural Tourism
Nestled in the serene embrace of Montseny, El molí de Can Aulet unfolds a story of tranquility, offering rustic cabins that whisper tales of nature’s beauty. Join us on a journey through the digital realms, as we reimagine the Mill’s (El molí de Can Aulet) online façade to echo the essence of “enjoy nature” and redefine rural tourism. This is the case study of our second group project assigned at the Iron Hack, Berlin-UX/UI Design bootcamp.
#SelectedPosts
Bir Oyun, Bir Hikâye, Bir Görsel Dil: Sultan’ın Dijital Kimliği
#ChronicleBuzzy: Yıllık Z Raporunun Instagram Carousel Post Hali
@muzede_drama 2024 Etkinlikleri: 1 Yıllık Takvimin Görselleştirilmesi
resume*
2022/23 Mercator-IPC Fellow at Sabancı University, Istanbul Policy Center, Sept 2022 – Aug 2023
Researcher at DaMigra e.V. (the Umbrella Organization of Migrant Women’s Self-Organizations in Germany), May 2019 – Sep 2022
Coordinator and Curator (Freelancer) at the Historical Museum Frankfurt, June 2014 – May 2023
Business Development Projects (Digital Marketing) at Pera Museum, Istanbul, Jan 2010 – Feb 2012
PhD | IGK—Berlin-New York, Toronto—Center for Metropolitan Studies, TU-Berlin, DFG Doctoral Fellow § TU Compilation Fellow, May 2015 – Feb 2021
Visiting Scholar | City University of New York, CUNY, Digital Humanities, DFG Fellow, Sept – Dec 2016
M.A. | Koç University, Istanbul, Anatolian Civilizations and Cultural Heritage Management, Koç University Fellow, Sept 2007 – Jan 2010
B.A. | Galatasaray University, Istanbul, Sociology, Sept 2003 – June 2007
scholarships
Mercator Stiftung – Istanbul Policy Center, Sabancı University, Fellowship, September 2022-August 2023
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG), Doctoral Research Fellowship, May 2015-April 2018
Vehbi Koç Foundation, Koç University, Anatolian Civilizations and Cultural Heritage Management, M.A. Program, Full Fellowship, 2007-2009
European Commission, Erasmus Exchange Program Fellowship, Sept. 2005- Feb. 2006
grants
DA BIN ICH: Ehe-unabhängiger Aufenthaltstitel für von häuslicher Gewalt betroffenen Migrant:innen (HERE I AM: Residence Permit Independent from the Husband for Migrant Women Affected by the Domestic Violence), Workshop with the Federal German Migrant Women’s Association, Frauenreferat Frankfurt, October – November, 2022
CAMOC Annual Conference, Travel Grant, 2023
Technische Universität Berlin, Doctoral Research Completion Grant, May – October 2018
CUNY (City University of New York)—Visiting Scholar, DFG-TU Berlin-IGK, September – December 2016
CAMOC Annual Conference, Travel Grant, CAMOC, 2019
CAMOC Annual Conference, Travel Grant, DFG-TU Berlin-IGK, 2015
tools
- Microsoft
- Google Workspace
- Slack
- Canva
- Figma
- Notion
- WordPRess
- InDesign
soft skills
- Digital culture passionate
- User-centric critical
- Solution-oriented
- Intellectually curious
- Thinking out of the box
- Persistent
Language Skills
- Turkish: Native
- English: Mastery
- German: Professional
- French: Professional
memberships
Müzecilik Meslek Kuruluşu Derneği (the Museum Professionals Association in Turkey), MMKD, Co-Founder
ICOM (the International Council of Museums), Independent Member
CAMOC (the International Committee for the Collections and Activities of Museums of Cities) / ICOM, Independent Member
certificates
WordPress Installation
UX/UI Design
MuseumPlus Grundlagen
let’s work together!
explore my services
and discover how we match!
@museumbuzzy
— and Just *not Another Blog* LIKE that
#servicebuzzy
My Comeback Code to the Job Market: Resetting My Digital Identity
Bir Oyun, Bir Hikâye, Bir Görsel Dil: Sultan’ın Dijital Kimliği
@muzede_drama 2024 Etkinlikleri: 1 Yıllık Takvimin Görselleştirilmesi
@museumbuzzy
DM me
and collaboration requests