Every year, Lawrence Technological University recognizes an outstanding researcher from each of its five colleges. The College of Architecture and Design (CoAD) selected Ahu Yolaç, PhD, as its 2026 Researcher of the Year.
Interim Dean Lilian Crum said, “The College selected Dr. Yolaç because her scholarship is both rigorous and visible: she’s securing competitive funding, publishing and presenting consistently in peer-reviewed venues, and advancing major book projects that position her as a leading voice in the field. She also expands LTU’s reach through cross-disciplinary collaboration and community-facing research themes, making her an especially strong candidate for Researcher of the Year.” Yolaç is a multidisciplinary designer and game studies researcher whose scholarship connects systems thinking, critical play, and design pedagogy. Her work often treats games (tabletop RPGs and video games) as learning systems—spaces where people practice strategy, collaboration, reflection, and values—while also exploring environmental justice and inclusive learning outcomes.
She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Interior Architecture and Environmental Design from Bilkent University, her Master of Science in Industrial Design from Middle East Technical University, both in Ankara, Turkey, and her PhD in Art Education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Her dissertation explored “A transdisciplinary approach towards educational gaming and game design.”
Key Research and Scholarly Highlights
In the past year, Yolaç has succeeded in:
- Major external funding (PI): Secured a $20,000 grant from the Michigan Humanities Council as Principal Investigator for “Land of the Three Fires.” The project connects game design with Indigenous history and environmental justice themes.
- Book contracts: Co-authored a book by Bloomsbury Publishing (with Lilian Crum) titled Systems Thinking in Design: Frameworks and Methodologies for the Emerging Designer (under contract), and contributed to an edited collection titled “Entangling Game Studies: Reflections from the Edges of Interactivity” to be published by McFarland & Company, Inc.
- Peer-reviewed publications (2024 into 2025): Published/accepted multiple scholarly works across game studies, culture, and design education; this includes peer-reviewed journal and edited-volume chapters (with several listed as in press/accepted).
- Conference activity and visibility: Accepted presentations at major venues (including DesignXLearn/DRS Learn X Design, NAEA, and others), with a deliberate strategy to build networks aligned to her research identity.
“It is wonderful to see that my work is meaningful not only to me but to others as well,” Yolaç said. “In CoAD, I have many colleagues who are passionate researchers. We collectively inspire each other to do more exciting work. From this wonderful cohort of researchers, I’m honored to be recognized as CoAD’s Researcher of the Year in 2026.”
