Faculty of Fine Arts - gsf@gelisim.edu.tr
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 Faculty of Fine Arts - gsf@gelisim.edu.tr

Visual Communication Design








 Asst. Prof. Dr. Büşra Kılıç Delivers Seminar on “Opportunities Offered by Animation for Historians in the Age of Digital Transformation”


As part of the Career Days series organized by the Department of History at Istanbul University, a thought-provoking seminar was held to explore how digital technologies are reshaping historical storytelling. The session featured Asst. Prof. Dr. Büşra Kılıç from Istanbul Gelişim University, Faculty of Fine Arts, who delivered a comprehensive presentation titled “Opportunities Offered by Animation for Historians in the Age of Digital Transformation.”


In her seminar, Dr. Kılıç traced the historical evolution of animation and examined how it has been transformed through the process of digitalization. From traditional 2D and 3D techniques to the latest developments in generative artificial intelligence, she provided a wide array of examples illustrating animation’s growing relevance in the humanities. She emphasized that animation is not only an artistic medium but also a powerful pedagogical and cultural tool that can support historical inquiry and education.

Participants were introduced to various real-world applications, including documentary animations, virtual museum experiences, digital reconstruction projects, and educational animations designed for secondary school students. These tools, she argued, make historical narratives more accessible, inclusive, and visually engaging, and can be used to bridge the gap between academic research and public history.

A key section of the presentation focused on the integration of generative AI technologies into historical content creation. Dr. Kılıç demonstrated how AI can be used to design historically accurate characters, costumes, and environments, and how these assets can be incorporated into classroom instruction, interactive exhibitions, or digital archives. Through a hands-on example, attendees had the opportunity to view a short AI-generated animation, showcasing how technological tools can enhance narrative power and visual storytelling.

Dr. Kılıç’s seminar served as an inspiring call to action for young historians, educators, and researchers, encouraging them to embrace interdisciplinary methods and creative technologies. By blending digital art with historical scholarship, she illustrated how new media tools can help narrate the past in more immersive and dynamic ways.

The event concluded with an engaging Q&A session, where participants shared their thoughts and asked questions, turning the seminar into an interactive learning experience. The discussion highlighted the growing importance of visual literacy and digital creativity in shaping the future of historical research and public engagement.