Dar Al-Hekma University hosted a visual communication exhibition last week. The exhibition was held at the campus to showcase the work and talents of senior students who will be graduating this year. The exhibition was designed to facilitate the students' integration into the job market after graduation by inviting many advertising agencies and business professionals to participate. "The Visual Communication program has been one of the most popular majors in Dar Al-Hekma University. I have received many testimonials throughout the years about the level of professionalism, distinctiveness and creativity our graduates exhibit, and this corroborates that we are guiding them down the right path," said President of Dar Al-Hekma Dr. Suhair Hassan Al-Qurashi. This exhibition is an expression of Dar Al-Hekma students' ambitions and accomplishments as they prepare for their professional careers. This year's exhibition showcased 38 senior students' projects covering a wide range of topics. "The exhibition displayed a wide variety of design materials since the students are accustomed to create a diversity of design projects that reflected their artistic identity. Our exhibition stands as a platform for making a change in the design industry in the Kingdom, a true reflection of School of Design and Architecture in Dar Al-Hekma University," said Dr. Effat Fadag, dean of the school. "I would like to congratulate the VisCom students and wish them successful careers in the near future. Last but not least, I congratulate the visual communication faculty, staff and students for all the effort they put into their studies and exhibition through this prosperous journey," she added. "The department is delighted to yet again to celebrate the graduation of a group of very talented young women and to send them out into the world to become the best creatives they can possibly be and to shape the future of the visual communication industry in this country and abroad. We know they are ready to become leaders in their field. After teaching them and working with them for four years it will be both difficult and joyous to see them leave Dar Al-Hekma University. We will miss their faces in our classrooms, but we are also excited to see what great things they will accomplish once they leave," said Dr. Cordula C. Peters, the chair of the Visual Communication Department. Three senior students explained how their capstone projects were inspired to help people in different ways. "I created a video about racism in Saudi Arabia. I chose this topic because some people see other nationalities as lesser and treat them as such. This behavior is rarely discussed and confronted. The targets of discrimination do not have a platform to defend them. This video should help people empathize with others who are being discriminated against and give them a voice to help stop the issue," senior motion graphic design student Tahira Baker said about her project. Another student, Salwa Ali, talked about her project "The Diaspora's Guide to Saudi Arabia" saying, "this guide caters to people like me who lived all their lives in Saudi Arabia but are from a different nationality. I associate myself with both Saudi and Pakistani cultures. I believe it is a strength that you can live in Saudi and in your homeland as well. This is a guide book that carries the stories of people living in Saudi Arabia. "My thesis topic is three important functional life skills young adults in Saudi Arabia need. For instance, money management; Miss Green teaches the concept of spending wisely by using a pool table with monopoly." The Visual Communication Department is one of the earliest programs to be offered in Dar Al-Hekma University. Now, for more than a decade the graduates of this program have been flooding the job market Jeddah, raising the standards. Many leaders and graphic designer entrepreneurs who were graduates of Dar Al-Hekma University have left an imprint in the industry. — SG
