Understanding Memories in The Interface of Space: Collage As a Representational Tool in Design Education

The concept of space and how it’s perceived is a subject that has been discussed and generated ideas about it for centuries and remains current. The definition and examination of mental and sensory processes in the perception of space have become the subject of many studies. This study includes the workshop's results supported by TUBITAK within the scope of 2237-A Scientific Education Activities Support to "express and interpret the memories of the individual in a spatial and sensory context with the collage technique". The first part of the workshop was designed as a theoretical part in which the concepts of "space, perception, memory, and experience" were discussed. The second part was designed as a practical part in which the participants embodied their memories with the collage technique. Within the scope of this study, first, the issue of space and perception of space was opened to discussion. In addition, a conceptual framework was created by explaining the general usage of the collage technique and its use in space expression. In the field study section, the participants' feelings about their memories and their relationships with the place were interpreted through their collage works. The results revealed that the scope and duration of education received affected the perception of space, and collage was an appropriate technique for expressing personal and subjective judgments. It is envisaged that the study makes an important contribution to the literature as it evaluates a subjective subject from a different perspective and can be open to many interpretations.