An evaluation of the employment processes of visual communication design graduates

Öz

This study examines the employability of visual communication design graduates by analysing the relationship between industry expectations and graduate experiences. The digital transformation of creative industries has reshaped the professional competencies expected from designers, making creative thinking, problem-solving, communication skills, and professional adaptability increasingly important alongside technical proficiency. In this context, the study explores the factors influencing graduates’ employability within a multidimensional framework. The research was conducted using a qualitative approach based on semi-structured interviews with employers and recent graduates in the field of visual communication design. The study demonstrates that graduates are evaluated not only according to their technical skills, but also in relation to portfolio quality, creative production capacity, sectoral awareness, communication abilities, and practical experience. It also reveals that mismatches between university education and industry expectations may negatively affect graduates’ transition into professional life, particularly in terms of practical application, early sector engagement and adaptation to working conditions. The study concludes that the employability of visual communication design graduates is shaped not only by technical knowledge but also by creative and communication-based competencies. In this respect, the study emphasises the importance of strengthening practice-oriented learning processes and enhancing university–sector collaboration in visual communication design education.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Visual communication design
• employability
• portfolio
• creative industries
• graduate competencies

Etik Beyan

Ethics committee approval for this study was obtained from the Üsküdar University Non-Interventional Research Ethics Committee. The study was approved on 15 October 2025 (File No. September 2025-03).

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