Author: Brianna Edwards (Page 2 of 2)

Communication is found in many social animals. However, the way human communicate is on another level. Human mainly ususes language today to commute with one another. What is language? Language is a psychological process in the brain that creates an associative bond by using a list of words arranged in specific orders to name ideas and concepts. Language is also associated with “sound-image.” It is what distinguish language from other form of communication. Depending on the language usually a select few of words can assign a sound with an object. There are many languages in different culture so there would be a language borer in communication.

Similar to language, symbols/icons are another way of communication. It requires the knowledge of an idea first however it doesn’t require sound to understand. For example, you can see an image of a dog with a not sign over it. If these are commonly used symbols in their society, there wouldn’t be a need to understand a foreign language to understand what the image means. No sound required. Signs, signifier, and the signified are employed in general communication by eliminating the complexity of understanding sound imagery. Signifiers are already assigned to a word symbol by choice it and cannot be changed. There must be a connection between the signifier (the symbol) and the signified (the idea) I can imagine that this can cause confusion.

Language and design existed side by side for a long time such as in books and scrolls. Someone had to write the content and someone else had to design the imagery around the writing. We also see the evolution in design and how designers incorporate language into their designs. Design can communicate with an audience without sound imagery. Design relays on the minds of the audience to use or understand the design. So, design to something like a chair, remote, toys, posters etc., is expected to be clear how it can be used.

When you see a lot of design/symbols today, language would be also be used alongside them. This help society to get familiar with the symbols. For example, when you use a computer, the user interface is filled with different symbols and icons. However, if the user hover over a symbol a text with the preferred language is displayed to the user.

You can’t have design without human civilization and communication. You’ll find design everywhere; in the home you live and the products you buy. Everything we see are designed by an individual designer and it is usually for a client. Since design is so intertwine with society, it can influence society or criticize it. This is done by using visual and textual communication in the design to the audience. A specific way designers communicate is by solving problems. It’s not exclusive to math problems but more of trying to solve theoretical questions in “why” and “how.” Such as how to display the information and how to print is the correct measurements. This is what makes design different from other creative fields.

These theoretical questions wouldn’t come to mind to the client or anyone that doesn’t specialize in the field. To successfully communicate a clear message, it is in a designer’s best interest to concern themselves with these questions. It is designer’s responsibility because it is what they are hired to use their knowledge of design. The client provides a base of what they want, and the designer makes it into fruition through using their skills to present that message. If the final design does not work for the audience/society then it is on the designer for not understanding the culture they are in.

Looking back at history, technology has a big impact on design. From the print and press to a digital computer software. They are always evolving and correspond to society. With the improvement of technology graphic design became less of an art to the public. You would mostly know about the product than who design the labels. Another thing designers should keep in mind is to stay relevant with the culture they are in. If a culture favors a specific style of design, other creative works can run the risk of being sidelined. For example, the Swiss style/international style was the style that took over graphic design in the 1950s-60s. It became the standard for any business because it was designed to be simple and clear for the general public. We can still see elements of this style today on street signs and some business logos.