The Expression of Conceptual Art in Visual Communication Design

Abstract

As traditional art forms have been repeatedly excavated, reconstructed, and even parodied, and as the supposed purity of modern art has increasingly come under scrutiny, artistic practice has gradually shifted from emphasizing visual form and stylistic aesthetics toward prioritizing conceptual intention. This transition laid the foundation for the emergence of conceptual art, which positions artistic value in the articulation of an underlying idea rather than in material craftsmanship alone. Building on this premise, the present study investigates how conceptual art manifests within visual communication design and how it reshapes design thinking in contemporary creative practice. Through a systematic analysis of the core principles of conceptual art-such as dematerialization, idea-driven creation, and process-oriented expression-and their integration with the functional, communicative, and symbolic features of visual communication design, this research examines the translation of concept into form across multiple dimensions. These dimensions include the construction of meaning, the selection and transformation of media, and the generation of viewer engagement. The findings suggest that conceptual art not only introduces more flexible and experimental cognitive frameworks into visual communication design but also enriches the field with deeper cultural connotations, heightened critical awareness, and more diverse expressive strategies. Such contributions significantly enhance the artistic value and societal relevance of visual communication design, highlighting its potential to evolve as both a communicative tool and a medium of contemporary cultural discourse.