The Faculty of Art and Design at the International Balkan University (IBU) successfully organized the workshop NotTheSame: Initiatives for Equality in Design, held from 30 October to 2 November 2025. Nearly 30 IBU students participated actively in the program, working under the guidance of academic mentors from IBU and guest academics from Yeditepe University, Istanbul. The workshop served as an inspiring space for creativity, collaboration, and academic exchange between the two institutions.

The program explored the intersection between cultural heritage, space, and contemporary design through a variety of interdisciplinary and practice-based activities. One of the central components of the workshop was the field visit to the Alaca Mosque in Tetova,an architectural and artistic landmark of the Ottoman period. Guided by Mr. Mahmud Emini, Religious Counselor at the Tetova Muftiate, and Mr. Emir Kasami, Imam of the mosque, participants gained deeper insight into the site’s symbolic elements, decorative style, and spatial harmony, drawing inspiration for their design concepts.

Throughout the workshop held at IBU INOX center, students engaged in brainstorming sessions, academic mentorship, and intercultural dialogue, leading to the creation of conceptual designs inspired by the Alaca Mosque. This process allowed participants to translate cultural impressions into innovative design ideas, bridging tradition and modernity. The NotTheSame workshop not only reinforced academic collaboration between IBU and Yeditepe University but also encouraged young designers to reflect on the values of equality, identity, and cultural awareness in contemporary design practice.