Tattoo art as a field of graphic design

Graphic design and tattoo as an art form have been means for visual communication. While graphic design was used to present an idea or a product, tattoo signified one's social status, belief, and traces from his/her life. Although existing almost every culture in ancient times, the art of tattooing lost its significance due to varying reasons. However, it is rediscovered in the previous century. In our century, the art of tattoo has overcome its notoriety with the help of popular culture. Many individuals have been using tattoo as a visual art form to underline themselves within the society they are living in. Tattoo is presenting a form of visual communication both in individual and social life. In this study, the communication aspect, psychological, sociological and cultural effects of tattoo art will be examined, the common points of graphic design and tattoo are going to be discussed in terms of visual communication. With the upcoming project, an answer will be sought to the question of how to establish communication between graphic design and tattoo practices on different surfaces (body and two-dimensional poster) by using the same image. This study aims to form a common area of research for the art of tattoo and graphic design as well as be source of information for academics, artists, and designers who are going to work on this topic.