Visual Communication: Introduction, Definition, Significance

Visual communication as the name suggests is communication through visual aid and is described as the conveyance of ideas and information in forms that can be read or looked upon. Visual communication in part or whole relies on vision, and is primarily represented or expressed with two dimensional images, it includes: signs, typography, drawing, graphic design, illustration, colour and electronic resources. It also explores the idea that a visual message accompanying text has a greater power to inform, educate, or persuade a person or audience.

The evaluation of a good visual communication design is mainly based on measuring comprehension by the audience, not on personal aesthetic and/or artistic preference as there are no universally agreed-upon principles of beauty and ugliness. Excluding two dimensional images, there are other ways to express information visually - gestures and body language, animation (digital or analogue), and film. Visual communication by e-mail, a textual medium, is commonly expressed with ASCII art, emoticons, and embedded digital images.

The term 'visual presentation' is used to refer to the actual presentation of information through a visible medium such as text or images. Recent research in the field has focused on web design and graphically-oriented usability. Graphic designers also use methods of visual communication in their professional practice. Visual communication on the World Wide Web is perhaps the most important form of communication that takes place while users are surfing the Internet. When experiencing the web, one uses the eyes as the primary sense, and therefore the visual presentation of a website is very important for users to understand the message or of the communication taking place.

The Eye of Horus is often referred to as the symbol of visual communication.[citation needed] It is said to be a representation of an eclipse, as the corona around the pupil is like the corona around the sun during a solar eclipse.

Definition of visual communication

Visual Communication is the conveyance of ideas and information in forms that can be read or viewed. The subject includes Graphic Design, Illustration and Animation for; books, print, magazines, screen-based media, interactive web design, short film, design for advertising, promotion, corporate identity, packaging design,etc.

Significance of visual communication

Immediacy

One of the primary benefits from visual communication over verbal is immediacy. Think back to the last time you tried to explain something complex to a friend, coworker, family member, more often than not in these situations you spend long periods of time making sure your audience understands what it is you’re explaining. Now, contrast that experience with looking at a chart explaining the sales for a specific product, you can show that information almost instantaneously. Visual Communication can bring a thing, location and even and idea to life in dynamic ways.

Simplicity

Another advantage is simplicity. Often visual communication can simplify the information of ideas that you are seeking to pass on to others. For example, architects use visual diagrams and schematics to pass on valuable information to contractors in a quick, easy to understand manner. Visual communication can also demonstrate the relationship between two entities or ideas in accessible ways.

Flexibility

Visual communication can also be more flexible in many ways than verbal communication. Visual communication not only bridges geographic distances, it can span cultural references. If you are looking to appeal to a broad demographic audience, such as a television or cable audience, visual images may allow you to reach more people with your message. Appealing visual images will often be more persuasive than verbal pitches.