Abstract:

Although the COVID-19 Pandemic is a global health crisis, it is an epidemic that re-regulates many areas of life and profession. This study focused on designs made by independent designers to protect and help protect people from disease. So, the relevant tendency is important in raising awareness and improving the desired behavior during the current COVID-19 pandemic. For this reason, the iconic designs of an independent designer in Turkey were examined to raise awareness at the point of the pandemic. Thus, it is aimed to understand the role of visuals in raising awareness and creating behavior. In the analysis, the semiotic analysis method was used. According to the analysis, it is seen that the examined visuals are quite remarkable often calling for protection from the new Coronavirus through euphemism and often using metaphors. On the other hand, it may be thought that the visuals examined may not convince everyone to be careful and avoid exposure to the virus. In the study, a social network analysis was also conducted to understand the appearance and interaction status of the pandemic in social networks, and the networks ‘#evdekal’ (stay at home) and ‘#hayatevesigar’ (life fits into the home) on Twitter were examined. The results of the social network analysis show that the course of the pandemic did not arouse public reaction (in the scope of the analysis period). However, the fact that close connections cannot be established between different networks and the presence of the government party and the Minister of Health in the networks is also important in terms of public opinion and interaction.