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Acting Head of Department of Graphic Design attends FITC-Design Conference in Amsterdam

The Acting Head of Department of Graphic Design, Dr. Ebenezer Acquah attended a Design Conference at Amsterdam and visited the Department of Communication and Multimedia Design (CMD) at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences in Netherlands from February 18, 2018 to March 3, 2018.

At CMD, Dr Acquah interacted with faculty members and students and initiated a discussion to foster collaboration between CMD and the Department of Graphic Design, University of Education, Winneba (UEW).

While in Amsterdam, Dr. Acquah had fruitful interactions with Mattijs Blekemolen, the External Relations Manager of Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, Harry Zengerink, Department Manager of CMD, Harold Koninkx, Lecturer, Design History and Maaike van Cruchten, Lecturer, CMD Motion Design and these interactions were significant in understanding the essence of design in visual communication and the need for collaboration.

Design agencies he also visited in Amsterdam were in 60seconds, Butterfly works, and GRRR design agency as well as the Stedelijk Museum, also known as the Museum of Modern Art in Amsterdam.

The Department of Communication and Multimedia Design (CMD) in Amsterdam is part of the Faculty of Digital Media and Creative Industries at Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences.

The Department offers a bachelor-level design education in the field of interactive digital products and services. It also provides students the opportunity to improve their skills as designers as they enjoy one of the exciting cities in the world.

CMD emphasises that designing is an interactive process to fulfil human needs and also views it as a collaborative process resulting in implementing solutions to real world problems.

Students in CMD design and develop interactive digital solutions by putting user needs at the centre of their process. In fact, the Department of Graphic Design at the University of Education, Winneba (UEW) also shares the ideas and beliefs of CMD, Amsterdam.

Briefing members of staff at the Department of Graphic Design on his return, Dr. Acquah highlighted the benefits of the Design Conference (dubbed FITC Amsterdam) and stated that the visit was an opportunity to help update the Department of Graphic Design on inter-university collaborations and the need to get acquainted with current state of the art equipment in the field of design and appropriate technology that facilitates the processes of design and production.

Dr. Acquah reiterated that the design conference was very educative, studio-research based and stimulating: the conference presented design for the real world to participants. The conference also featured the world’s most innovative, technical and creative talks that inspired designers to pursue their dreams and create the very best of works.

In line with the vision of the Department of Graphic Design, Dr. Acquah acknowledged that his visit to the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences was worthwhile.

Discussions he had with faculty members and the External Relations Manager of Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, Mattijs Blekemolen, showed strong desire for collaboration from CMD, Amsterdam. The trip was co-sponsored by Graphic Design Awards Ghana, founded by Felix Ofori Dartey, and Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences. In fact, the trip was a package from winning the Mentors Award for Graphic Design at the Graphic Design Awards Ghana 2017 in Acrra, Ghana.

The Department of Graphic Design, UEW has to work assiduously to bring this anticipated collaboration to reality.

 

Department of Graphic Design

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