The aim of the Institute is to apply the new technological achievements by means of experiment in realistic as well as speculative scenarios in the context of communication, for the purpose of developing new application models. Unlike established technologies, new technological advancements can be deployed differently from their originally intended purposes. At the Institute, this new experimental approach is seen as a basis for a reflective engagement with communication, visual communication, images and their impact, along with technological development in general.

The Institute pursues its activities with regard to training through the BA degree programme Visual Communication and Digital Spaces and the research-focussed MA programme Digital Communication Environments.

In the field of continuing education, the Institute offers two MAS degree programmes in Graphic Design in collaboration with the University of Illinois Chicago, along with the Basel Summer and Winter Workshops, respectively.

In the service sector, the ANDICO LAB handles communication projects on behalf of public institutions, organizations, and businesses. In research, the Institute carries out externally funded projects in the field of applied media, communication, visual, conceptual and design research. PhD projects in the aforementioned fields are offered in collaboration with universities in Switzerland and abroad.

You can find an extract of the Institute’s bibliography here

The Institute Visual Communication has a diverse network of partner institutions that includes, among others, the National Institute of Design in Ahmedabad, India, the Paju Institute of Typography, South Korea, the National Taiwan Normal University in Taipei and the Rhode Island School of Design in Providence, USA.