At Arkın University of Creative Arts and Design (ARUCAD), a seminar titled “New World Trends and Sustainable Brand Approaches” was organized as part of the courses offered by the Visual Communication Design and New Media and Communication departments. The seminar featured Aysun Şabanlı, Vice President of Sustainable Brands Türkiye, consultant, speaker, and academic. The Turkish session was held on March 26, while the English session took place on March 27. Both seminars were moderated by Asst. Prof. Dr. Huri Yontucu, who is responsible for the courses.
In her presentations, Aysun Şabanlı comprehensively discussed the new world order shaped by digitalization and evolving consumer behaviors. Emphasizing that sustainability is not only about longevity but also encompasses social and environmental impacts, Şabanlı highlighted the necessity for brands to be shaped according to ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) principles.
Topics discussed included the increase in online shopping habits post-COVID-19, virtual identities created by social media, ethical values, and sensitivities of the new consumer profile toward transparency and collectivity. Additionally, Şabanlı addressed current risks such as environmental challenges, AI-driven misinformation, political polarization, cost-of-living crises, and cybersecurity threats, explaining how brands should develop their vision in response.
The seminars also emphasized the importance of social activism and purpose-driven brand strategies, underlining that sustainability is a societal responsibility beyond commercial objectives.
