Gestalt Theory in motional typography with distance education: A phenomenological research

The aim of this research is to determine student experiences regarding the process of designing animated typography according to Gestalt Theory within the scope of "Graphic Design III" course. In this context, qualitative research approach and phenomenology design were adopted, since the research was considered as examining the experience of Gestalt Theory teaching on students. The research was carried out with 8 students who took the course within the scope of the "Graphic Design III" course held with distance education in the spring term of the 2020-2021 academic year. Research data; Observation, interview, document review and audio-visual materials were obtained and analyzed according to content analysis. Three main themes, namely "Benchmarking", "Designing" and "Production" were reached from the data obtained. As a result of the findings, it was reached that the students made sense of Gestalt Theory and gained awareness about how it shaped their designs. Within the scope of the Graphic Design course, it is recommended to prepare lesson plans that highlight student experiences on Gestalt Theory and its principles and provide training.