Welcome to the Academy
A place to learn, grow, and build the skills that shape your career as an industrial designer.
CHOOSE YOUR LEARNING PATH
LEARN FOR FREE
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Created by Fulden Dehneli, these free YouTube videos offer practical guidance on portfolio building, project storytelling, presentation, and the realities of growing as an industrial designer.
Perfect for design students and early-career designers seeking a clear starting point, practical advice, and guidance.
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PORTFOLIO LAB
A guided 6-week program designed to help industrial designers build a portfolio with stronger structure, clearer storytelling, and greater confidence.
Perfect for students and early-career designers who want a structured process, ongoing guidance, and the accountability of working alongside a small group.
PORTFOLIO CONSULTATION
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A focused 45-minute 1:1 session with Fulden Dehneli, centered on your portfolio, career direction, project selection, storytelling, and presentation.
Perfect for designers who need expert clarity before applying for internships, jobs, graduate programs, or preparing for an important portfolio review.
What is the Portfolio LAB?
A six-week journey combining live sessions, practical assignments, and personalized feedback to help you build a portfolio that represents you as a designer
WEEK 1
WEEK 2
WEEK 3
PORTFOLIO MINDSET
Build the right foundation by understanding what a portfolio really is, what hiring managers and design leaders look for, and how to approach it strategically.
YOU AS A DESIGNER
Discover what makes you unique as a designer by identifying your strengths, weaknesses, values, and perspective. Develop your Bio, CV, and a visual identity that reflects who you are.
PROJECT SELECTION & DRAFTING
Curate your projects strategically, define the right portfolio flow, identify missing gaps, and build the first complete draft of your portfolio.
WEEK 4
STRUCTURE & LAYOUT
WEEK 5
WEEK 6
Apply the fundamentals of visual communication, including hierarchy, grids, typography, and composition, to improve readability and presentation.
STORYTELLING
Learn how to present your projects beyond visuals by structuring your narrative, communicating your decisions, and explaining your design process with clarity.
PORTFOLIO TO PROFESSION
Prepare for real-world applications with practical guidance on job hunting, interviews, portfolio expectations, and a live Q&A session with an industry guest.
BONUS
FINAL 1:1 PORTFOLIO REVIEW
Each participant who completed 6 weeks will receive a 45-minute 1:1 portfolio review with Fulden Dehneli within one month after the course concludes. This session is dedicated to reviewing your updated portfolio and answering your remaining questions.
What This Course Is — and Isn't
To set clear expectations, Portfolio Lab focuses on how you present your work. We'll focus on helping you communicate the work you've already created in the strongest and most compelling way possible.
WHAT WE FOCUS ON
Portfolio strategy and structure
Project selection and storytelling
Layout and visual communication
Personal positioning (Bio, CV, portfolio identity)
WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED
Design critiques or redesigning your product concepts
Feedback on the industrial design quality of your projects
Sketching, CAD, rendering, or technical design tutorials
MEET YOUR INSTRUCTORS
COURSE LEAD INSTRUCTOR
FULDEN DEHNELI
INDUSTRIAL DESIGNER / CREATIVE LEAD
FOUNDER OF FULDENDE
ASSISTING INSTRUCTOR
ATABERK GÜZELSOY
INDUSTRIAL DESIGNER / NATIVIA TECH
PART-TIME INSTRUCTOR / METU ID