The first inter-institutional research seminar between VUT and TUT senior graphic design students organised by Kate Chmela-Jones (Senior Lecturer: Graphic Design) took place at the Department of Visual Arts & Design on the 10th September 2012. The theme of this colloquium was simply Research and Inquiry in Visual Communication with the aim to allow students and staff to discuss and present their completed research and research-in-progress, to benchmark their work at an inter-institutional seminar, and to open a dialogue for further research collaborations with the staff and students from TUT.

VUT’s Graphic Design staff and students were joined by the Executive Dean of the Faculty of Human Sciences, Prof. Riana van der Bank and the Executive Director Research Directorate, Dr Bernadette Johnson in welcoming Dr Rudi de Lange (associate Professor in Visual Communication, TUT) and Mr Schalk van Staden (Lecturer: Multimedia Design, TUT) as well as 14 students registered for DTech, MTech and BTechqualificationsfrom various design disciplines at TUT. A selected number of papers presented at the colloquium will be published in an upcoming edition of the NEXUS journal. An exhibition of VUT’s BTech graphic design students’ practical work was open for viewing at the BODUTU art gallery in K-block.

An expression of gratitude is extended to Prof. van der Bank, Avi Sooful (Acting: HOD Visual Arts& Design) and Dr Bernadette Johnson as well as VAD technical staff for their support in making the colloquium possible.

Riaan Wilmans (BTech Multimedia Design, TUT) presenting his paper "Towards a possible use of Digital Media is Sustainable Communication."

Harris Mokgweetsi (BTech Graphic Design, VUT)

One of the poster presentations exhibitions in the BODUTU art gallery. Nanette Erasmus (BTech graphic Design, VUT) entitled: "The role of culture in pattern design in South Africa."

Article written by: Kate Chmela-Jones
Department of Visual Arts & Design
Snr. Lecturer: Graphic Design
Tel: (016) 950 9894
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