Visual Artist or Visual Designer? Visual Communication Design Education

ABSTRACT: Design tools and contents have been digitalized, forming the contemporary fields of the visual arts and design. Corporate culture demands techno-social experts who understand the arts, design, culture and society, while also having a high level of technological proficiency. New departments have opened offering alternatives in art and design education such as Visual Communication Design (VCD) and are dedicated to educating students in the practical aspect of using digital technologies in visual design. The aim of this research is to investigate the current adoption and understanding of VCD education in Turkey and North Cyprus. The marketing and commercialization strategies of various institutes are analyzed to reflect the trends and possible invisible curricula present in VCD. VCD students profiles were examined and interviews were conducted in order to understand the purpose of VCD education from the students’ and VCD scholars’ perspective. Questionnaires were also administered to VCD students in order to determine if future visual designers are aware of the complexities of the actual elements of visual design. The cognitive portion of this research demonstrates the difference between vision and perception which is one of the major subjects in VCD. The differences are demonstrated through the use of methods borrowed from critical pedagogy and semiotics in order to analyze this relatively new field in education. Various triangulation approaches were used to analyze the perceptions of students and scholars and synthesize suggestions to improve VCD curriculum. Keywords: Visual Communication, Design, Artist, Designer, Education. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………