Communication Design or Graphic Communication Design: Demystifying the Impending Controversy

The phrase ‘Graphic Design’ has been the adopted name for the branch of Visual Art that combines text, illustration and other visual elements to communicate messages. This name has reigned for decades, however, since the emergence of the digital revolution and the information age, different names have been adopted to replace the popular name graphic design. The adaptation of the new names has sparked controversy in the fraternity across the world, and these ideological positions have created confusion among people outside the profession regarding a definite name for the profession. In this paper, the researchers who are part of the fraternity and in academia sought the views and opinions of graphic design tutors in senior high schools in the Cape Coast metropolis in the Central Region of Ghana on the controversy through questionnaire and semi-structured interviews, and a total of 10 graphic design tutors were used. The data was analysed and discussed using quasi qualitative-analytical approaches. The findings revealed that, there are diverse entrenched opinions of people in the controversy which does not suggest a possibility of compromise to adopting a definite name soon. To indicate their position in the argument, the researchers employed critical thinking and inductive reasoning to examine the facts that emerged from the views of the tutors discussed, and the findings from the analytical review, and concluded on what they believe should be the appropriate name for the programme. Keywords: Graphic Design, Communication Design, Visual Communication Design and Graphic Communication Design. DOI: 10.7176/ADS/86-04 Publication date:October 31st 202

Colour Symbolism of Aboakyir

In Ghana, traditional festivals are important cultural elements that are identified with many ethnic groups across the country. Aboakyir is one of such traditional festivals celebrated annually by an ethnic group in the Central Region called Simpa or Effutu. The Effutu people celebrate the festival at their traditional capital called Winneba every first week of May. The purpose of the study was to conduct a qualitative research into the colours used to celebrate the Simpa Aboakyir festival during the 2016 edition. To aid the researchers gather reliable data for the study, a non-probability sampling technique called purposive sampling was used to select 16 respondents. The researchers used observation, unstructured interview and still-photography to gather primary data throughout the last week of the festival. The responses from the interviews were recorded electronically; field notes and still-pictures were taken and the recorded information was transcribed, the field notes were expanded and relevant photographs were sifted and edited. The data was categorised into relevant themes and the selected photographs were analysed through aesthetic appreciation. The transcribed data were analysed through inductive reasoning and descriptive qualitative approach to respond to the objectives and research questions of the study.  The findings that emanated from the analyses were discussed qualitatively according to the philosophy of interpretivism research paradigm to reflect the literature and the research questions of the study. Based on the findings that emerged from the analysis, the researchers recommended that visual art students at all levels and visual art practitioners must experiment the colours used by Effutus in the celebration of their traditional festival to develop other unconventional harmonious colour schemes that can be applied in creative arts. Keywords: Aboakyir festival, colour schemes and aesthetic appreciatio

Development of Graphic Design Practice and Education in Ghana

In Ghana, Graphic Design is regarded as one of the contemporary arts that was introduced in the Gold Coast by the British (The colonial administration) and European merchants in the 17th Century. Since then, the art has gone through series of metamorphosis in various aspects till date. However, empirical evidence indicates that the developmental patterns of the art in Ghana has not been documented comprehensively. Using qualitative research approaches such as historical research method, interviews, document review, narrative and inductive analysis, this paper sought to conduct a comprehensive research into the local Graphic Design industry to gather pieces of fragmented documented and oral information from relevant stake holders who were purposively selected from different parts of Ghana based on their professional memory on industrial practice and Graphic Design education in Ghana, to reconstruct the history of the art for posterity. The study revealed that, commercial press printing and newspaper advertising were introduced in the Gold Coast first before outdoor advertising and desktop publishing. Also, colonisation, successive government policies, technological inventions in the western countries, and developments in computer technologies have contributed immensely to the development of Graphic Design practice and education in Ghana from the 17th Century to date