Who I am

a person wearing a baseball cap
a person wearing a baseball cap
a person wearing a baseball cap

A Product Person with 6 years of experience creation exceptional products

I am a Product Manager and User Experience Researcher & Designer with 6 years of experience in gaming, e-commerce, mobility, retail, and education.

Over the past 4 years, I have led product planning, live operations, and cross-functional teams in hypercasual and casual F2P game production. By blending strategic planning with data-driven insights, I optimize key metrics while aligning game and economy designs with business goals, ensuring seamless user experiences from concept to launch.

Education

M.Sc. in Game and Interaction Technologies, Istanbul Technical University, TR, 2019-2022

  • GPA: 3.5/4.0

  • Dropped Out - Thesis State

  • Relevant Coursework: Introduction to Game Design, Human Computer Interfaces, Game Production

B.Sc. in Industrial Product Design, Istanbul Technical University, TR, 2015-2018

  • GPA: 3.3/4.0

  • Capstone Project: "Discoverist" — Designed a board game with a mobile app to connect traditional board game users with mobile game world.

  • Relevant Coursework: Project Management in Design, Design Theories and Methodologies, Research for Product Design, Human Factors in Design

B.A. in Industrial Product Design, Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, TR, 2014-2015

  • Studied for 1 year and transferred to Istanbul Technical University

Experience

Go Games
Game Designer & Product Manager
November 2024 - Present
Istanbul, TR

Hyper Casual & Hybrid Casual Puzzle

As a Game Designer and Product Manager at Go Games, I focused on hyper casual games, managing the entire game production process from ideation to final release. My role involved extensive coordination across teams, designing game systems, and overseeing product performance to ensure successful launches.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Analyze and create documentation for hyper casual games, contributing to the transition to the hybrid casual model.

  • Ideation sessions and collaborations with publisher to refine ideas for new games.

  • Lead publisher meetings and finalize game concepts, ensuring alignment with business and market needs.

  • Prepare Game Design Documents (GDD), detailing game mechanics, features, and systems.

  • Prepare art briefs to guide visual development and ensured design alignment.

  • Monitor project timelines, ensuring adherence to schedules and facilitating smooth development cycles.

  • Test game prototypes, implement feedback, and iterate on features to ensure quality.

  • Manage the entire game lifecycle from finalization to release, ensuring the game met industry standards.

  • Manage the creation and testing of CPI video scenarios, optimizing them for user acquisition.

  • Lead testing phases, analyze test data, and provide insights for game optimization.

  • Oversee the process from initial concept to launch, ensuring each game met player expectations and business goals.

Vertigo Games
Senior Product Manager
June 2023 - March 2024
Istanbul, TR

Projects: Critical Strike & Polygon Arena | Mobile - F2P - Mid core - Shooter - Multiplayer

As I transitioned to the role of Senior Product Manager, I undertake the leadership of the product team, overseeing both Critical Strike and Polygon Arena while contributing to strategic growth and business development. I played a key role in expanding the product team and leading the hiring process for new team members.

Key Achievements:

  • Led the product team, ensuring efficient operations and collaboration across departments.

  • Spearheaded business development efforts, identifying new growth opportunities for both titles.

  • Played an integral part in recruitment, conducting interviews and onboarding new team members to enhance team capabilities.

  • Took full ownership of localization and QA testing with product team.

  • Actively contributing to the onboarding and training of new product team members to enhance their know-how and ensure their participation in product development processes.

In this senior role, I combined strategic vision with hands-on leadership to drive product success, while mentoring and growing the product team to achieve their full potential.

Product Manager
March 2021 - June 2023
Istanbul, TR

Projects: Critical Strike & Polygon Arena | Mobile - F2P - Mid core - Shooter - Multiplayer

As the sole Product Manager for Critical Strike and Polygon Arena, I was responsible for overseeing the complete development lifecycle of these mid core action FPS multiplayer games. During my tenure, I handled everything from initial ideation to final release, ensuring seamless coordination between teams and delivering top-quality gaming experiences.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Led team management & communication to foster collaboration across cross-functional teams.

  • Managed high-level product planning for directly influencing product direction and success.

  • Conducted A/B testing to drive data-driven decision-making and improved retention, DAU, playtime, revenue metrics of the games.

  • Led games UX research & design to enhance player engagement and retention.

  • Designed game economy to align with business goals and improve monetization.

  • Conducted competitive analysis and designed game features for exceptional gaming experiences.

  • Executed and managed live ops and events to ensure continuous player satisfaction and high retention along with revenue increase.

  • Took full ownership of data analytics and QA testing.

  • Took on the role of Scrum Master, optimizing agile workflows for the product team.

As the sole product owner, I had complete accountability for the product's success, managing all facets of development and ensuring alignment with market trends and player feedback.

Vertigo Games
Senior Product Manager
June 2023 - March 2024
Istanbul, TR

Projects: Critical Strike & Polygon Arena | Mobile - F2P - Mid core - Shooter - Multiplayer

As I transitioned to the role of Senior Product Manager, I undertake the leadership of the product team, overseeing both Critical Strike and Polygon Arena while contributing to strategic growth and business development. I played a key role in expanding the product team and leading the hiring process for new team members.

Key Achievements:

  • Led the product team, ensuring efficient operations and collaboration across departments.

  • Spearheaded business development efforts, identifying new growth opportunities for both titles.

  • Played an integral part in recruitment, conducting interviews and onboarding new team members to enhance team capabilities.

  • Took full ownership of localization and QA testing with product team.

  • Actively contributing to the onboarding and training of new product team members to enhance their know-how and ensure their participation in product development processes.

In this senior role, I combined strategic vision with hands-on leadership to drive product success, while mentoring and growing the product team to achieve their full potential.

Product Manager
March 2021 - June 2023
Istanbul, TR

Projects: Critical Strike & Polygon Arena | Mobile - F2P - Mid core - Shooter - Multiplayer

As the sole Product Manager for Critical Strike and Polygon Arena, I was responsible for overseeing the complete development lifecycle of these mid core action FPS multiplayer games. During my tenure, I handled everything from initial ideation to final release, ensuring seamless coordination between teams and delivering top-quality gaming experiences.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Led team management & communication to foster collaboration across cross-functional teams.

  • Managed high-level product planning for directly influencing product direction and success.

  • Conducted A/B testing to drive data-driven decision-making and improved retention, DAU, playtime, revenue metrics of the games.

  • Led games UX research & design to enhance player engagement and retention.

  • Designed game economy to align with business goals and improve monetization.

  • Conducted competitive analysis and designed game features for exceptional gaming experiences.

  • Executed and managed live ops and events to ensure continuous player satisfaction and high retention along with revenue increase.

  • Took full ownership of data analytics and QA testing.

  • Took on the role of Scrum Master, optimizing agile workflows for the product team.

As the sole product manager, I had complete accountability for the product's success, managing all facets of development and ensuring alignment with market trends and player feedback.

Hes Games
UX / UI Designer
March 2020 - June 2021
Istanbul, TR

Projects: Sabotaj | PC - Shooter - MMOFPS

During my time at Hes Games, I played a crucial role in enhancing the user experience and visual appeal of PC game projects. My responsibilities spanned across UX research, UX design, UI design, and game art, contributing significantly to the overall gameplay and player satisfaction.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Led UX research to understand player behavior and preferences, ensuring that all design choices were grounded in user insights.

  • Designed and optimized user flows and wireframes, enhancing the game's usability and accessibility.

  • Developed UI designs that aligned with both the game's aesthetics and functionality, ensuring an intuitive player experience.

  • Actively contributed to game art related with UI, collaborating closely with developers and artists to ensure consistency between design and execution.

In this role, I combined my skills in UX/UI design and game art to deliver visually engaging and user-friendly game experiences, making significant contributions to the success of the projects.

Hes Games
UX / UI Designer
March 2020 - June 2021
Istanbul, TR

Projects: Sabotaj | PC - Shooter - MMOFPS

During my time at Hes Games, I played a crucial role in enhancing the user experience and visual appeal of PC game project, Sabotaj. My responsibilities spanned across UX research, UX design, UI design, and game art, contributing significantly to the overall gameplay and player satisfaction.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Led UX research to understand player behavior and preferences, ensuring that all design choices were grounded in user insights.

  • Designed and optimized user flows and wireframes, enhancing the game's usability and accessibility.

  • Developed UI designs that aligned with both the game's aesthetics and functionality, ensuring an intuitive player experience.

  • Actively contributed to game art related with UI, collaborating closely with developers and artists to ensure consistency between design and execution.

In this role, I combined my skills in UX/UI design and game art to deliver visually engaging and user-friendly game experiences, making significant contributions to the success of the projects.

Userspots
User Experience Researcher & Designer
April 2019 - March 2020
Istanbul, TR

As a UX Researcher & Designer at Userspots, I worked on a variety of high-profile projects across different industries, focusing on improving user experiences through thorough research, analysis, and design. I conducted usability tests, scenario design, user interviews, expert analyses, competitive analyses, wireframe development, prototyping, survey design, information architecture, customer journey maps to enhance both website and mobile app experiences for a diverse range of clients.

Projects:

  • Sabancı University Website – Conducted usability tests and analysis to improve the user journey and interaction.

  • Nike Website – Led usability tests and analysis, providing actionable insights for optimizing the site's performance.

  • Hedef Filo TikTak Mobile App – Designed wireframes and performed usability testing to enhance app usability and functionality.

  • Vodafone E-shop – Conducted comprehensive usability tests and delivered insights to streamline the online shopping experience.

  • Cevahir Mall Website & Mobile App – Led usability tests, analysis, research, and wireframe development for both platforms to ensure a seamless shopping experience.

  • Turkven – Conducted expert analysis using the Baymard Report, delivering high-value insights for improving the performance of the websites.

  • Setur Website – Engaged in usability testing, research, analysis, and developed wireframes to enhance the online travel booking experience.

  • MindBehind – Led a 1-day UX workshop to provide actionable design improvements.

  • JR. UX Designer's Guide to the Galaxy - Heuristics Analysis training for UX training sessions

  • Koc University Campus Experience – Worked on UX research to optimize the digital and physical experience of the campus.

  • LC Waikiki – Provided expert analysis with the Baymard Report, offering strategic recommendations to improve the e-commerce experience.

In this role, I combined rigorous research methodologies with practical design solutions, contributing to enhanced user experiences and optimized digital products for a wide array of clients.

Outliers Notebook
UX & UI Designer
November 2018 - April 2019
Istanbul, TR

I contributed to the design and development of user interfaces, ensuring optimal user experiences across various projects. My responsibilities involved collaborating closely with cross-functional teams to refine design elements and implement solutions that align with user needs and business goals. This experience allowed me to hone my skills in creating user-centric designs while maintaining high usability standards.

Userspots
UX & UI Design Intern
September 2018 - October 2018
Istanbul, TR

I completed an internship as a UX/UI Design Intern at Userspots, where I gained valuable insights into the company’s processes and familiarized myself with various projects. During this period, I had the opportunity to observe and learn the intricacies of UX research, design methodologies, and the overall workflow of the teams. This experience provided me with a solid foundation and understanding of how to approach UX/UI challenges and allowed me to seamlessly transition into a full-time role at Userspots later on. It was an essential step in preparing me for future design responsibilities.

Istanbul Technical University
Visual Designer
September 2017 - November 2018
Istanbul, TR

At ITU Career Center, I worked part-time for one year as a Visual Designer. My primary responsibilities included managing and updating the career center’s website, ensuring that all visual elements aligned with the university's identity. I also played a key role in designing and preparing all visual content and the overall brand identity for the center’s annual career day events. This included creating promotional materials, digital assets, and ensuring cohesive visual communication across various platforms to engage attendees and represent the career center effectively.

Skills

Design

Usability Testing
User Journey Mapping
Test Scenario Design
User Interviews
Expert Analysis
Competitive Analysis
Low & High Fidelity Prototyping
Wireframe
Survey Design
Information Architecture
Presentation Design

Gaming

Games UX Research & Design
Game Design
Live Ops
Localization
Game Economy Design
Data & Game Analytics
A/B Testing

Management

Team Management
Communication
Product Planning
Business Development
Scrum Mastering

Tools

Figma
Excel
Firebase / Google Analytics
Appstore Connect
Google Play Store
Photoshop
Illustrator
Tableau
Unity
SQL
Keynote

Certifications

Steve Bromley
The Complete Games User Research Fundamentals
2024 - Ongoing
Survey Design for Playtesting & Games User Research
2024
Google
Google UX Design: Specialization
2024 - Ongoing

List of the Course Certificates
Foundations of User Experience (UX) Design
Start the UX Design Process: Empathize, Define, and Ideate
Build Wireframes and Low-Fidelity Prototypes
Conduct UX Research and Test Early Concepts
Create High-Fidelity Designs and Prototypes in Figma
Responsive Web Design in Adobe XD
Design a User Experience for Social Good & Prepare for Jobs

Google Project Management: Specialization
2024 - Ongoing

List of the Course Certificates
Project Execution: Running the Project
Project Planning: Putting It All Together
Agile Project Management
Project Initiation: Starting a Successful Project
Foundations of Project Management
Capstone: Applying Project Management in the Real World

Pendo.io
Product Analytics Certification
2023
Product Management Basics Certification
2023
Product-led Certification
2023
Product School
Product-Led Growth Micro-Certification PLGC ™
2023
Product Analytics Micro-Certification PAC ™
2022
Leadership for Product Managers
2022

Achievements

Vodafone
Vodafone Designathon - Finalist
2019
Userspots
UX Camp - 2ND
2019
Algida
Algida Designathon - 2ND
2018