İrem Özdarendeli

İrem Özdarendeli completed her undergraduate studies in Urban and Regional Planning and Interior Architecture at Istanbul Technical University. She then earned her master’s degree in Urban Design from the same university. During her graduate studies, she focused on exploring the role of serious games in urban planning, particularly how game-based approaches can be utilized in participatory processes.

Since 2021, she has been part of the Play the City team, based in Amsterdam and Istanbul. She has been involved in the research, design, and implementation phases of serious game projects developed in areas such as climate, food systems, mobility, and housing in various countries, including Türkiye, the Netherlands, and Ukraine. Through these projects, she has contributed to the design of participatory game sessions that bring together local governments, experts, and citizens.

Özdarendeli’s areas of expertise include data visualization, mapping, and game-based urban planning methods. In her academic and professional career, she continues to explore the use of serious games as a tool for creating more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable cities.