An investigation on graphic designer candidates' awareness about graphic-design ethical principles

The beginning of the debate over professional ethics in our country is quite new compared to some European countries and the USA. It is predicted that it will be much more difficult and more time-consuming to compromise on an ethical basis in the field of graphic design, which requires a personal creation process because of its nature. The reasons of this delay, which also occupy the agenda of professional organizations of graphic designers, must primarily be looked for in individuals who are not aware enough towards their rights and responsibilities, also in the problems which are come up against during the development process of the professional organizations in the country and in the educational conditions of graphic designers. This research has been initiated with the thought that training processes will be able to have a significant contribution to develop a common sense of professional ethics of graphic designers. For this reason, the curricula of educational institutions have been examined, but it has been understood that none of the undergraduate programs have a course of ethical principles, except elective courses in postgraduate programs opened in a few private institutions. As a result of this finding, it has been determined to study the level and qualities of the ethical awareness of prospect designers who do not take courses related to professional ethics. In accordance with this purpose, the domestic and foreign literature has been scanned; information has been collected on ethics, occupational ethics and the professional ethics of graphic design, legislative regulations, manifests and declarations, containing ethical principles of graphic design and published by internationally well-regarded and valid institutions and organizations, have been studied. The questions which are based on these studies have been piloted and semi-structured interview forms have been prepared by taking expert opinions as well. The results of this study, conducted with twenty-five participants selected from graphic design students of five universities, have been presented and interpreted through coding's and the tabulations generated based on frequency values. In the light of the findings, a belief has occurred that "Ethics" in education is necessary. It is thought that the data that enables us to come to this conclusion can be evidence therefore it can be shared with the necessary institutions to ensure that the relevant course is included in the curriculum of graphic design education.