Meaningful Statement from CIU on the World Design Day

Cyprus International University Faculty of Fine Arts, Design and Architecture, Department of Graphic Design faculty member Assist. Prof. Dr. Gürkan Gökaşan emphasized in his statement for April 27th World Design Day that design is a multifaceted discipline that plays an active role in social transformation, beyond being merely an aesthetic field of production.

Gökaşan noted that World Design Day, celebrated each year on the anniversary of the founding of the International Council of Design (Ico-D), is an important occasion for designers to question the current state of their profession, rethink it, and take responsibility for shaping the future. He stated that Ico-D, headquartered in Montreal, brings together professional communities on a global scale in the fields of visual communication and graphic design. He added that this day also aims to make the transformative power of design visible and to promote cultural diversity.
Assist. Prof. Dr. Gürkan Gökaşan drew attention to the potential of design to produce sustainable solutions that improve the quality of human life, stating: “Designers must act not only with aesthetic concerns but also with a sense of social, cultural, and environmental responsibility. While today’s technologies provide designers with faster and more innovative production opportunities, they also bring the responsibility to develop versatile solutions that can respond to diverse user needs.”

Gökaşan also emphasized that designers should evaluate the process not only as “producers” but also as “users.” He noted that the ever-evolving understanding of design, alongside technological developments, offers an opportunity to reconsider concepts such as sustainability, cultural richness, emerging trends, and social responsibility. He highlighted that CIU’s membership in the International Council of Design (Ico-D) is an indicator of the importance given to design ethics and education, and stated that the university continues to develop its academic approach in this field on an international scale.