A DESIGN STORY IN THE SKY: TURKISH AIRLINES’ STEWARDESS UNIFORMS (1933-2021)

Yıl 2022, Cilt: 1 Sayı: 5, 121 - 136, 30.06.2022

Gizem Çelik

Öz

The fact that civil aviation is a rapidly developing and spreading fi eld since the early 1900s
has made it an important promotional tool for countries. Due to their national fl ag carrier
positions, airlines have an important position in the representation areas of the countries,
because it is possible to reach even overseas countries where it is diffi cult for countries to
promote or represent themselves through airlines. National fl ag carriers take their identities,
which are represented by design, with them in every location they reach. In addition
to advertising campaigns, aircraft dressings and fl ight uniforms are important opportunities to increase visibility or accurately
refl ect representation. At this point, design comes to the fore because design is vital both at this point of differentiation and prominence
and in making sense of the stages that institutions have gone through. Countries that
use this power provided by design correctly fi nd the opportunity to express themselves
more accurately. When the design stages are read carefully, it will be possible to reach
important historical information about both the fl ag carrier institution and the countries
represented. In this study, the historical process of Turkish Airlines, which is the fl ag carrier
of Turkey, will be read through fl ight personnel uniforms and the relationship between
fl ight personnel uniforms and Turkish Airlines’ company profi le will be evaluated.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Design, National design, Corporate image, Airlines