Across the entire range of diversified activities taking place at the Visual Communication Department of the Bezalel Academy of Art and Design, from book design through website design and graphic illustration to advertising campaigns or packaging for a television channel, it is always the same wonder that stands at the basis of creation: visual communication.
Visual communication is the art of conveying messages, ideas, feelings and information through form, material, color, motion, sound, text and image. The designer communicates with his/her target audience using conventional language – in order to be understood, while at the same time using unconventional language – in order to be surprising and original.
The curricular programs at the Visual Communication Department begin with the studying of the fundamentals of design and visual communication during the first two years, and then divide, during the third and fourth year, into five specialized programs: graphic and typographic design; web, user interface & experience (interactive) design; illustration; design for advertising; design in moving media & video (broadcast).
During their term of study at the Department, students experience traditional techniques along with cutting-edge activities. The connection between the hand that draws, that actually touches the material, and the futuristic-technological interface, is one of the most essential principles of the Department.
The curricular program at the Department encourages creativity that transcends traditional boundaries, that explores and experiments without compromising professionalism, the highest level of proficiency and the ability to work vis-à-vis the client. All of these take place in an active and dynamic environment through intensive, animated discussions, critical thinking, the acquisition of extensive knowledge and education for excellence and innovation.
The Visual Communication Department aspires to provide its graduates with a future learning ability under changing circumstances, and train them to be active designers, leaders and entrepreneurs who would change the visual space of Israel.
Adi Stern, Head of the Visual Communication Department
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The Curricular Program
The curricular program at the Visual Communication Department provides a sequence of learning and professional and personal development of the student over the course of four years of study.
The first and second years are devoted to an introduction to the fundamentals of design and visual communication and to the consolidation of creative and conceptual skills. The relations between content and form (through visual images or verbal expressions), understanding the various media and techniques, understanding the relationships and methodologies of the various aspects of visual communication – all of these will provide the basis for subsequent studies in the following years.
Third and fourth year students focus on and specialize, according to their personal choice, in one of the specialized curricular programs offered by the Department. In each of these programs, students have the opportunity to explore fields and subjects they like and prefer, while continuing to develop their conceptual and technical skills and standards of professionalism. At the same time, third and fourth year students take optional (elective) courses (most of which are departmental while others are bi-departmental and multi-departmental), thereby expanding their professional perspective and range of skills.
In the fourth year of studies, each student chooses a subject for a project he/she will eventually submit as a finishing project at the end of the year (the final project).
First & Second Year Studies
All studies are mandatory and there is no division into specialized programs or subjects. Students must attend all classes without exception.
Third & Fourth Year Studies
Half-way through the second year, each student chooses a main specialized program out of the five specialized programs listed below:
- Graphic/typographic design
- Design in moving media & video (broadcast)
- Illustration
- Design for advertising
- Web, user interface & experience (interactive) design.
Third Year Academic Requirements
Third year students must meet the following requirements:
- Complete four (4) mandatory single-semester courses in the student's major subject;
- Complete four (4) optional single-semester courses from the lesson pool of optional (elective) courses, List A (core courses);
- Complete two (2) optional single-semester courses from the lesson pool of optional (elective) courses, List B;
- Complete two (2) of the multi-departmental/bi-departmental courses.
Fourth Year Academic Requirements
Fourth year students must meet the following requirements:
- Complete two (2) mandatory lessons during Semester A, in the student's major subject;
- Complete one (1) optional single-semester course from the lesson pool of optional (elective) courses, List A (core courses);
- Complete two (2) optional single-semester courses from the lesson pool of optional (elective) courses, List B;
- Complete the final project guidance course during Semester B;
- Plan, execute & submit the final project.
Credits
- Mandatory single-semester courses during the third and fourth years award 3 credit points each.
- Optional single-semester courses award 2 credit points each.
- Final project guidance awards 2 credit points.
- Submission of the final project awards 10 credit points.
Total: 24 credit points per year during the third and fourth years.
Students who so wish may attend one additional course at another department. The credit points awarded for this course will not be included in the credit point balance for the student's degree.
Students wishing to enroll in courses beyond the quota outlined above should contact the relevant department heads through the department secretary.
Program Heads
- Head of the Illustration Program: Merav Solomon.
- Head of the Graphic/Typographic Design Program: Anat Katzir.
- Head of the Design for Advertising Program: Sivan Ben-Horin.
- Head of the Web, User Interface & Experience (Interactive) Design Program: Oren Moshe.
- Head of the Design in Moving Media & Video (Broadcast) Program: Eran Yuval.
For appointments with the department/program heads, contact the department/program secretary.
Selecting a Specialized Program for the Third & Fourth Years
Before the Passover holiday, the Department holds a concentrated single-day seminar for second-year students, in which the various programs are presented.
Each student should select his/her chosen program immediately following the holiday.
Students may contact the program heads for advice before making their selection.
Assembling the course timetable for the third year is carried out in the context of the computerized prioritizing process during the summer vacation at the end of the second year.
Changing Programs
- Having selected a program, the student has accepted the curricular program for that selection, for the duration of four semesters during the third and fourth years, until the completion of his/her studies.
- In special cases, where the student wishes to change his/her selection during that period, he/she would have to obtain the approval of the departmental pedagogic committee for his/her request. Even if his/her request to change programs has been approved, the actual transfer between programs will take place between semesters – never during the semester.
- The pedagogic committee is authorized to stipulate the student's transfer from one specialized program to another by the assembly of a course program customized to the student's needs, whose objective is to help the student assimilate and attain the level of knowledge required in the desired (new) program.