Tuesday 14 December 2010

Essentials Of Visual Communication

I have been reading the book called "Essentials Of Visual Communication" and straight away got interested in in the book. The arthur started off by saying he had been given a difficult task that seems rather impossible. The author Bo Bergstorm explains how he was given the task to do a class on visual communication to a class of deaf people. Not only did the idea of him doing such a task intrigue me but i was curious how he managed to successfully carry out this task. This led him to talk about visual communication as a whole and how it effects people in every day life. It goes on to say how people are bombarded with media on a daily basis therefore do not feel at home in a media environment as people can see it as being "intrusive and annoying". 


This book brought up a lot of things that made me really think. For example when i read the statement "It can seem as though pictures are our enemies and letters are our friend". Not only does this show the possible effect and message given off from Typography, but also the effect media has on people as a whole. Its amazing who people can grow to see one thing as an enemy and another as a friend through association. 


Those who work in visual communication need to conquer this "fear", but how? Do those who wish to work in such a industry need to de-tatch themselves from the cycle that allows this fear to take place?


The book says it is down to knowledge. The individual needs to "create a helicopter view of the entire chain. The chain consists of analysis, strategy and narrative to message, image form and colour". This way you see the add for what it is and not the message it can evoke in you. 


The book talks about how the skills of not only visual communication but communication in media as a whole is becoming more skilful, the result will be that "messages will reach their audiences more easily". Also jobs are merging. Those with one skill will also have the skill of someone who would have been paid individually for. For example there was a debate i attended that was asking the question if a art director can be a copy writer too, also vice versa. This is also causing the industry to more competitive and more pressure on those already in the industry whose jobs may be on the line.


This book has a well laid out structure and written in a way that is easily understood and well broken down. It is not just a big chunk of text. The text is nicely spaced out and the pictures included make it easier to read as well as being more interesting. He arises issues in visual communication that make you stop reading and think about what has just been said. The book does not just broaden your knowledge on visual communication as a subject but it sparks curiosity and interest. It shows how visual can effect us as individuals. The book covers how to create effective visual communication pieces and support what has been said by images. The images also allows you to understood was has been said more, they are not added in to just look pretty. Therefore i think this book is a book worth reading.