The Transformation of Ideology Into Form in Graphic Design and El Lıssıtzky Analysis

Abstract

Graphic design is not merely a visual arrangement practice but also an effective communication medium through which intellectual and ideological structures can be transmitted via formal strategies. This study aims to examine El Lissitzky’s 1919 poster “Beat the Whites with the Red Wedge” in terms of its formal and conceptual layers within the context of graphic design. The research is based on a qualitative approach and employs a two-stage analysis involving visual content analysis and visual rhetoric examination. The visual content analysis evaluates composition, geometric structuring, color distribution, orientation and use of negative space, while the visual rhetoric analysis focuses on the relationship between formal elements and ideological message, interpreting meaning construction through symbols and metaphors. Findings indicate that the poster is not merely a propaganda design but an early example where form transforms thought in modern graphic design history. Despite occupying limited visual space, the red wedge conveys dominant rhetorical power, while the white area represents the passive ideological structure. The study demonstrates that form may function not only as visual representation but also as an ideological and rhetorical medium, offering methodological reference for future research.