Interdisciplinary Human Studies Platform
Dusunbil Publishing is an independent media and publishing initiative founded to make complex philosophical and psychoanalytic ideas accessible to a broader audience. The project integrates digital publishing, print media, and curated academic events under a coherent editorial vision.
- Co-management: Olcay Yilmaz
- Period: 10/2014 – Present
I. Editorial & Curation
Dusunbil’s editorial philosophy is to bridge the gap between academic rigor and public accessibility, with an aim of translation without loss—retaining conceptual depth while widening intelligibility.
The Mind
evergreen | thematic
Rather than reacting to daily news cycles or ephemeral debates, we publish texts that remain conceptually relevant over time. The result is a publishing ecosystem closer to a curated intellectual archive than to a news outlet.
Content is not assembled opportunistically. Articles are written and chosen based on conceptual alignment with a pre-defined thematic framework. Each essay approaches the theme from different disciplinary angles (psychoanalysis, philosophy, political theory, cultural studies). We also organize events such as symposia, summer camps, and seminars with the very same principle:
- Online essays introduce the issues.
- Print expands the issues with different aspects.
- Events, such as a two-day symposium, translate editorial themes into live intellectual engagement.
Print, digital, and events are designed as interconnected nodes within a unified conceptual ecosystem. This continuity transforms the platform from a publishing outlet into a sustained intellectual environment.
II. Technical Architecture
The Skeleton
self-hosted | e-commerce | data sovereignty
To ensure complete editorial independence and data sovereignty, I engineered and maintained a custom-built, self-hosted, user-friendly digital ecosystem. This infrastructure supports high-concurrency event registrations, a global e-commerce bookstore, and a high-traffic dynamic news portal.
II.I. Core Server Environment (LEMP Stack)
Self-hosted Linux server for privacy, control, and performance.
Operating System: Linux-based server management (Ubuntu) via SSH for maximum security and resource control.
Web Server: Nginx configured for high-performance content delivery, utilizing custom server blocks and optimized headers.
Database Management: MySQL optimization for large-scale archival of “evergreen” intellectual essays and complex transaction logs.
Processing: PHP-FPM implementation to ensure rapid execution of dynamic content and high-speed page loads during peak event registration periods.
II.II. Digital Commerce & Event Logic
Platform: Custom WordPress architecture leveraged as a Headless-capable CMS for the magazine’s digital arm.
E-Commerce: Full WooCommerce deployment, featuring custom payment gateway integrations and automated inventory management for the print bookstore.
Event Management: Built a bespoke registration and ticketing framework to handle multi-day symposia, seminars, and events.
UX/UI Design: Focused on “Informed Minimalism”—prioritizing accessibility, readability, and a frictionless path from “Reading” to “Purchase.”
II.III. Security & Sustainability
Data Sovereignty: Migrated away from “Black Box” SaaS providers to a self-hosted environment to protect contributor data and intellectual property.
Performance Tuning: Implementation of server-side caching and database indexing to maintain 99.9% uptime during high-traffic publishing cycles.
Maintenance: Routine management of SSL certificates, automated backup protocols, and security hardening to prevent SQL injections and DDoS vulnerabilities.
III. Operational Strategy
Beyond editorial vision and technical autonomy, Dusunbil operates as a carefully coordinated intellectual enterprise. The project’s sustainability depends not only on content production but on the orchestration of people, time, and resources within a coherent long-term framework.
The Heart
sustainability | execution | governance
III.I. Financial Architecture & Sustainability
The platform operates through a hybrid economic model integrating:
- Print circulation and bookstore partnerships
- Direct-to-reader digital sales
- Event registration revenue
- Curated inventory management
Budget planning is conducted conservatively to ensure operational continuity independent of external funding bodies. Inventory, pricing, and production cycles are managed to maintain equilibrium between intellectual ambition and financial realism.
III.II. Logistics & Execution
Operational continuity requires structured coordination across multiple domains:
- Conference registration user experience and participant flow management
- Print production supervision and distribution logistics
- Bookstore relations and supply chain tracking
- Shipping workflows and international order processing
This infrastructure enables Dusunbil to function as a self-sustaining intellectual platform rather than a grant-dependent cultural initiative.
III.III. Governance & Strategic Direction
Co-management ensures distributed decision-making while maintaining conceptual unity. Strategic planning balances editorial coherence, technical independence, economic resilience, and community development. The result is an integrated model in which thought, infrastructure, and organization reinforce one another.
Output & Impact
Founded 2007 | Co-managed since 2014
100+ printed issues
Approx. 500,000 cumulative print copies over 10+ years
5,000+ single-issue sales across major cities in Turkey
50+ science-to-public events
Integrated print–digital–event ecosystem
