Özlem Er received her BID and MSc degrees from the Middle East Technical University (METU), Ankara, Turkey, and her PhD from the Institute of Advanced Studies at Manchester Metropolitan University, the UK. Her PhD study looked into the use of design consultancy companies by clients from newly industrialized countries. Having taught at METU from 1996 to 2000, she is currently an associate professor in the Department of Industrial Product Design, Istanbul Technical University (ITU). Her research interests include acquisition of product design capability at firm-level, the use of foreign design consultancies for learning and technology transfer, design management and design education.