Visual Discovery Conference in Miami provides unique perspective for VisCom students

Fresh back from the 2024 Visual Discovery Conference (VDC) in Miami, Florida, Zoe Cranfill, a School of Visual Communication (VisCom) junior majoring in photojournalism and minoring in commercial photography, is already excited about the possibility of attending next year’s VDC in Augsburg, Germany.

“I think the Visual Discovery Conference is an essential experience for students because it allows students to work with other schools and experience how they work,” said Cranfill. “It puts into perspective how our school works, and we see other visual communication techniques.”

The VDC is a student-centered gathering of students and faculty from renowned international design schools where student collaboration and experiential learning is at the very heart of an inspiring event. In a five-day workshop involving various topics significant to each host city, students from different international schools work together to create visual stories and then present them in an oral/visual presentation on the final day. Accompanied by professional keynotes and talks by professors, a student exhibition, a student design competition and exploration days, the event offers a variety of opportunities for intercultural exchange, learning and professional discourse. Hosted annually by one of the involved universities, the VDC also offers participants a compelling insight into various cultural environments and the campus life of international design universities.

“The Visual Discovery Conference is a life-changing opportunity for students interested in visual storytelling,” said Timothy Goheen, director of Ohio University’s School of Visual Communication. “The VDC is an example of the best that OHIO has to offer, giving students a chance to grow, not only skill-wise, but culturally. It’s what the university experience is all about.”

The 2024 VDC was held in in Miami, Florida and hosted by renowned data visualization expert Prof. Alberto Cairo of the University of Miami. Students and faculty from Augsburg University of Applied Sciences, Ohio University, University of North Carolina, Florida International University, and Northeastern University were in attendance. Student worked on visual projects about hurricanes, The Everglades and the effects of global warming.

“I learned the importance of team communication and that everyone has a talent that should be used,” said Cranfill. “I also learned that Florida is sinking. The sea levels are rising at a catastrophic amount.”

Two of the students who attended the previous VDC in Lucerne, Switzerland also went to Miami this year. Cranfill was one of them.

“Lucerne, Switzerland was incredible,” said Cranfill. “I chose Ohio University because of the incredible photojournalism program and how at home I felt when I came to campus due to the professors and surroundings of Ohio.”

The conference/workshop was the brainchild of Ohio University School of Visual Communication’s Assist. Professor John Grimwade (now emeritus) and Augsburg University of Applied Science’s Professor Michael Stoll. The two wanted to give students an opportunity to participate in a professional storytelling conference/workshop that didn’t require students to pay a fee. The only cost to students is transportation, lodging and meals. The first VDC was held at the University of Venice in Venice, Italy in 2018 and the second here at Ohio University in 2019.