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All Journal VCD (Journal of Visual Communication Design)
Stewart, Ashley
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Arts Social Sciences

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Journal : VCD (Journal of Visual Communication Design)

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A Comparative Analyses of Form and Style in the Works of Suowari Jacqueline and Ibim Cookey Stewart, Ashley; Fawara, Silver
VCD: Journal of Visual Communication Design Vol. 10 No. 1 (2025): VCD: Journal of Visual Communication Design
Publisher : Universitas Ciputra

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.37715/vcd.v10i1.4890

Abstract

This study delves into the artistic realms of Jacqueline Suowari and Ibim Cookey, two remarkable Nigerian visual artists who have carved their unique paths within the contemporary art landscape. Suowari's masterful ball pen artistry and mixed media approach juxtaposed with Cookey's photorealistic pencil renderings, offering a captivating exploration of form and style. Through a meticulous examination of their biographies, creative processes, and 5 works each, totaling 10 artistic expressions, this study aims to unravel the profound narratives embedded within their works. Employing qualitative research methodologies, including library research and critical analysis, this paper navigates the intricate layers of identity, cultural heritage, and socio-political commentary that permeate Suowari's and Cookey's oeuvres. By dissecting the symbolic representations, technical mastery, and thematic underpinnings, this research illuminates the multifaceted roles these artists play in shaping contemporary Nigerian art discourse. Moreover, it delves into the ways in which their artworks serve as potent vehicles for challenging perceptions, fostering dialogue, and celebrating the resilience and beauty of the African diaspora. The research design utilizes both observational and survey methods, while data analysis is conducted using the semiotic descriptive approach. Among various similarities and distinctions, it was revealed that both artists engage in mixed media exploration, indicating the depth and diversity of their artworks. Ultimately, this comprehensive exploration seeks to contribute to the growing body of knowledge surrounding Nigerian visual arts while offering a nuanced appreciation for the transformative power of artistic expression.
Picture Book as Wayfinding Intervention: A Critical Visual Analysis of Zoë Learns Healthcare Signs for Multilingual Users in Southern Nigeria Stewart, Ashley; Inyang, Etiido
Journal of Visual Communication Design Vol. 11 No. 1 (2026): VCD: Journal of Visual Communication Design
Publisher : Universitas Ciputra

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.37715/vcd.v11i1.6495

Abstract

Multilingual users of primary health centres in Nigeria face a significant but under-researched wayfinding challenge: institutional signage systems encoded in English and internationally standardised iconography that carry no bridge to the indigenous languages and cultural frameworks of their users. This study addresses that gap by critically analysing the picture book Zoë Learns Healthcare Signs (Stewart, 2025)—a purpose-designed visual communication artefact that deploys the conventions of the picture book genre to build wayfinding literacy among multilingual communities in Rivers State, Nigeria. Drawing on the Critical Picture Book Literacy (CPBL) framework of Stewart and Koopmans (2025), multimodal discourse analysis, and postcolonial design theory, the study evaluates how illustrator agency, identity representation, and unconscious bias operate within the book's visual text, and how its semiotic strategies bridge international wayfinding iconography with local linguistic knowledge. The analysis finds that the book makes three substantive design contributions: it constructs a culturally specific BIPOC child protagonist who repositions marginalised communities as knowing navigators; it pairs international wayfinding signs with Igbo and Ijaw equivalents, creating a multilingual bridge strategy without precedent in Nigerian healthcare design; and it deploys an enhancement mode of image-text interaction that faithfully replicates the semiotic challenge users face in actual healthcare environments. The study also identifies design limitations—typographic language hierarchy, inconsistent multilingual coverage, and a counterpoint safety-signs spread—and develops concrete, actionable recommendations for future iterations. By demonstrating how picture book design can function as a pre-emptive, community-embedded wayfinding literacy intervention, this study contributes an original framework applicable to inclusive health communication design in multilingual contexts across the Global South.
Co-Authors Fawara, Silver Inyang, Etiido