ViLD -five years anniversary. Taking stock on the visual learning agenda

In 2016 the research Centre Visual Studies and Learning Design (ViLD) was launched
with the aim to offer a hub for joint research and for network activities. The centre is
based at Aalborg University in Copenhagen and was until 2021 managed through
collaboration with partners from University College Copenhagen, University College
Lillebaelt, The Animation Workshop VIA University College, Department for Visual
Design the Royal Danish Academy, Design School Kolding, with the aim to create a
collaborative platform for researchers and professionals who share an interest in how
the visual can be used for research and learning.
The notion of the visual covers a broad field of visual practices and visual forms of
analogue and digital representations in diverse social and cultural contexts. ViLD’s
main goal is to develop the visual as a theoretical and practical field and explore its
potential for knowledge generation. ViLD aims to study and reveal the visual’s
potentials across scientific and educational disciplines and in professional domains.
Furthermore, we want to facilitate that our aim is operationalised in practice. This
endeavour is based on the assumption that visuals hold increased importance for
learning, knowledge generation and social practices in a digital networked society.
ViLD aims to explore the impact of visual interactions in the contexts of science,
education, art and culture and to develop new ways to qualify, reflect and utilise visual
potential for scientific, educational and professional purposes.
ViLD conducts investigations in diverse fields related to research and learning,
including but not limited to: Visual learning, visual design, visual communication, visual
research methodologies, visual arts education, visual culture, augmented reality, virtual
reality, sketching, animation, and visual programming.
After five years we want to share some of the achievements attained in ViLD and you
are cordially invited to collaborate with us the next five years to come.