Visual Arts and Communication Design Program (VACD)

On June 16, 2026, Europe House Sarajevo hosted "Traces of the Past, Strength of the Future" ("Tragovi prošlosti, snaga budućnosti"), marking the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict.

Organized by the Foundation of Local Democracy in partnership with the Association “Sumejja – Strong Herzegovinian Women” and the Association of Camp Detainees Kozarac, the event brought together more than 40 participants from across Bosnia and Herzegovina to honor survivors of conflict-related sexual violence and encourage dialogue on the role of youth in building a society based on truth, empathy, and solidarity.

The program concluded with an exhibition of artworks created by young people from Sarajevo, Mostar, and Kozarac through educational and creative workshops exploring the impact of transgenerational trauma.

🏆 Among the awarded participants were our VACD students Esma Hadžić, Merjem Bešić, and Amina Špago, who developed their projects within the VA416 Design Studio II course, led by Asst. Prof. Dr. Emir Hambo.

Congratulations to our students on this meaningful achievement and for using design and visual communication to promote awareness, empathy, and social change. 👏

📸 Photo credit: .ba

🎉📸 We are proud to conclude our editorial series with a project developed for ANTS T-SHIRTS handmade clothes, created by Photography II students during the spring semester under the mentorship of Adjunct Instructor Aida Redzepagic.

The editorial brought together students Enis Prijić, Salko Hamzić, Dželila Fajić, Medina Ljuca, and Sara Kakeš, while Antonela Jurišić took on the role of model. Inspired by the brand’s distinctive character, the project challenged students to develop a cohesive editorial concept, balancing the brand’s identity with their own creative vision.

📸✨ We are pleased to present the third installment of our editorial series created by Photography II students during the spring semester under the mentorship of Adjunct Instructor , and developed in collaboration with Bosnian and Herzegovinian fashion brands.

Created for , this editorial was produced by students Džemal Begić, Muhamed Fejzić, and Iman Ibrišević, who translated the brand’s distinctive identity into a contemporary visual narrative through photography, styling, and creative direction.

We are in love with their work and results! 🤩👏🏻

🌟 We are proud to celebrate the remarkable achievements of our VACD student, Ada Avdagić, who recently represented both Bosnia and Herzegovina and IUS at two major international taekwondo events. 👏🏻🏅

Ada first competed at the Grand Prix Rome 2026, one of the most prestigious taekwondo tournaments in the world and a competition reserved exclusively for the top-ranked athletes in Olympic categories. Competing in the Women’s -57 kg category, she delivered a highly competitive performance against a strong Italian opponent, demonstrating exceptional skill, determination, and sportsmanship on one of the sport’s biggest stages.

Only two days later, Ada participated in the President’s Cup G3 in Nuremberg, Germany, a tournament that brought together more than 1,700 athletes from across the globe. Throughout the competition, she won four out of five matches, including an impressive victory against an Olympic medalist and multiple Grand Prix and Grand Slam champion. After a series of outstanding performances, Ada secured a place in the final and finished the tournament with a bronze medal.

These achievements reflect Ada’s dedication, perseverance, and ability to excel both academically and athletically. We are incredibly proud to see one of our students representing Bosnia and Herzegovina and IUS at the highest international level, and we congratulate her on these exceptional results.

Congratulations, Ada! Your VACD family is proud of you and wishes you continued success in all your future competitions. 🏆💜

📸 Photo credit:

📸✨ Continuing our editorial series, we are excited to present the second fashion editorial produced by Photography II students under the mentorship of Adjunct Instructor as part of their collaboration with Bosnian and Herzegovinian fashion brands.

Created for .studio_, this editorial was developed by students Amila Redžić, Namik Ahmethodžić, Uvejs Bektaš, Sumeja Kovačević, Edi Pallaska, and Enna Tatlić, with Dželila Sarajlić appearing as the model, reflecting a thoughtful interpretation of the brand through contemporary fashion imagery.

🎶📚 As part of their final project brief “Sevdalinka in Type” in the VA304 Typography II course, VACD students attended a guest lecture entitled “The Art of Longing: Sevdalinka in Literature and Life”, delivered by Dr. Damir Kahrić from the ELIT/ELT programs and organized by Asst. Prof. Nejira Mulahmetović, MA.

The lecture introduced students to sevdalinka as an important literary, cultural, and social phenomenon, exploring its role in shaping collective memory, cultural identity, and emotional expression in Bosnia and Herzegovina. By connecting perspectives from literary studies with contemporary visual communication and design, the session provided valuable context for students’ ongoing creative work.

🤝 The lecture marks another successful collaboration between the VACD and ELIT/ELT programs, reflecting FASS’s commitment to interdisciplinary learning and enriching student experiences through diverse academic perspectives.

As part of the Photography II course, led by Adjunct Instructor , our students worked on a series of fashion editorials for Bosnian and Herzegovinian brands in this semester, combining photography, art direction, and contemporary visual storytelling. 📸🤩

We are proud to present the first of four editorials, with this one created for "Molimao" by students Adnan Keserović, Belma Karačić, and Nejla Mustajbegović. From concept development and styling to production and final visual identity, the project challenged students to experience the creative process behind a professional fashion editorial while developing their own visual language.

Through this project, students had the opportunity to work with a real client, transforming a brand story into a compelling visual narrative while gaining valuable industry experience.

As part of the Photography II course, led by Adjunct Instructor Aida Redžepagić, our students worked on a series of fashion editorials for Bosnian and Herzegovinian brands in this semester, combining photography, art direction, and contemporary visual storytelling. 📸🤩

We are proud to present the first of four editorials, with this one created for MOLIMAO by students Adnan Keserović, Belma Karačić, and Nejla Mustajbegović. From concept development and styling to production and final visual identity, the project challenged students to experience the creative process behind a professional fashion editorial while developing their own visual language.

Through this project, students had the opportunity to work with a real client, transforming a brand story into a compelling visual narrative while gaining valuable industry experience.

🎤 Asst. Prof. Nejira Mulahmetović, MA, participated as a keynote speaker at the international online seminar “The Integration of Arts and Design Education and the Social Sciences: Enhancing Creativity and Critical Thinking in Academic Research,” held on 13 May 2026 and organized by the Faculty of Education and Liberal Arts at INTI International University, Malaysia. 🇲🇾

The seminar brought together academics, researchers, educators, and students from various international institutions to discuss the growing importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in contemporary education and academic research. The discussion emphasized that while specialization remains essential, contemporary social, technological, and cultural challenges increasingly require integrative approaches connecting arts, design, humanities, and social sciences.

In her presentation, Assist. Prof. Mulahmetović explored the historical transition from holistic educational models toward disciplinary specialization, highlighting the renewed need for interdisciplinary and collaborative research practices. Through theoretical frameworks, empirical research models, and educational case studies, the presentation demonstrated how collaborative methodologies significantly enhance students’ conceptual understanding, interpretative depth, critical thinking, and creative capacities.

Particular focus was placed on practice-based interdisciplinary projects connecting visual communication design, literature, cultural studies, psychology, and social sciences through collaborative typography, contemporary art interpretation, and conceptual 3D modeling practices. The seminar further highlighted the importance of international academic collaboration and innovative educational approaches in addressing contemporary educational and societal challenges. 📚

As part of the Erasmus+ staff exchange program, from May 11–15, 2026, our VACD Assistant, Dženeta Valjevac, took part in an Erasmus+ mobility at Alexandru Ioan Cuza University in Romania. 🇷🇴

During the visit, she delivered a lecture within the course Visual Communication in Advertising, led by Prof. Dr. Ioana Grancea, exploring the topic called “How do visuals make people understand, remember, and trust information”.

The lecture focused on the relationship between visual communication theory and contemporary design practice, offering students insight into how visual materials influence perception, emotion, memory, and trust. Through examples from industry and design practice, discussions explored the importance of combining conceptual thinking, research, and strong visual ex*****on in creating effective communication.

We would like to sincerely thank Prof. Grancea and her students for the warm welcome, inspiring exchange, and wonderful hospitality. 🤗