Towards a Smart Visual Research Method for Visual Communication Design Education

Higher education in Visual Communication Design (VCD) in Turkey has faced significant challenges as a result of recent disruptive events, particularly the pandemic, resulting in shifts in learning models. The transition to online education resulted in lower engagement, attendance, and project quality. In response, the goal of this research is to create a smart and adaptable approach to VCD education that thrives in a variety of scenarios. The study emphasizes the role of the ideation phase of the design thinking approach in fostering innovation and engagement. It compares current ideation tools, specifically existing method decks and play card decks, to assess their ability to foster essential skills (creativity, innovation, problem-solving, sustainability, ethics, and collaboration). Their limitations, however, become apparent during the complex concept development process of visual communication design. The proposed 5W/1H approach appears to be a promising alternative, as it supports designers' essential skills while aligning with the field's specific needs. The study bridges the gap between designers and users by framing visual communication design as a reflective practice. This model addresses language, defining medium, and problem definition issues that have been identified in existing tools in the field of visual communication design. The incorporation of the proposed approach represents an important step toward holistic, user-centered design capable of navigating complex challenges.