Zuhal Akay
Digital Sociologist. Market Researcher. Web Designer.
I build simple and intuitive digital experiences grounded in research and user insights. I’m obsessed with ensuring users never feel overwhelmed and crafting clear, aesthetically pleasing experiences.
Case Studies
Oct. 2025
Led the UX/UI design and wrote the content for StateZero AI’s clean and intuitive single-page portfolio.
Aug. 2025-Oct. 2025
Designed the UI, user flows, and brand identity for an AI story game app featuring daily interactive stories.
Dec. 2024
Led end-to-end UX/UI design for a driving school website in Vancouver, BC. Built and launched the site using Wix.
Oct. 2024
Redesigned the website for an Istanbul-based silk clothing brand, leading the project from concept to launch using Wix.
Education
Sept. 2022 - Oct. 2025
MA in Sociology at Simon Fraser University
Master’s Thesis: "Exploring the Political Pulse of Live Streaming: The Case of Turkish Twitch and Kick"
I led a netnographic study examining political streaming cultures, platform features, and regular viewer motivations and experiences on live streaming platforms Twitch and Kick.
2017–2022
BA in Sociology at Bahcesehir University
GPA: 3.5 / 4.0 (High Honors)
2019-2020
BA in Sociology at Radboud University (Erasmus Exchange)