Program Structure

“Communication” –defined as the exchange processes of any information, idea, or content– has become an important buzzword of our age evolving in response to a big flux of social, cultural and technological challenges. In Istanbul Bilgi University, we define Visual Communication Design as a multidisciplinary field that is concerned with several implementation areas such as Multimedia Design, Publication Design, Cyber-Culture, Animation, Typography, Photography and Video Productions, Interface and Interaction Design, Game Design, Media Arts, Smart Products and Environments.

Founded in 1997, the Visual Communication Design Program aims to train future designers who are able to understand the most complex communication design problems and solve them with a systematic approach, and who can combine theoretical knowledge with practical skills to produce creative solutions. The curriculum has been evolving not only to give priority to application and production, but also with an educational approach that teaches the students to create styles of their own in order to become successful in the increasingly competitive world of design profession. In the program, while students are urged to question traditional design concepts, they are also encouraged to produce works either on their own or within creative teams. Successful projects are presented at international venues and/or annual student exhibitions held within the university, such as RESET: VCD Student Graduation Projects Exhibition, PROJECT #. At the end of this challenging process, students learn how advancing technologies expand the application areas in daily life. For the realization of this mission, together with comprehensive and professional design training, the required intellectual knowledge is also provided to the students.

The program performs its activities at three main grounds: memberships in various international education institutions such as Erasmus and Cumulus networks, bilateral international agreements of student exchange programs that are carried out with over 20 universities in both Europe and the USA, and with participation in international workshops, exhibitions and festivals. In addition, the program has been collaborating with some major national and international institutes in the field of art and design such as Ars Electronica, ECAL, ico-D, IIID, IIDj, IKSV, ISTKA, ZKM.