Principles of Visual Communications
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| Week 6 | Week 7 | Week 8 | Week 9 | Week 10 |
| Week 11 | Week 12 | Week 13 | Week 14 | Week 15 |
Welcome to The Principles of Visual Communications!
We are surrounded by visual messages. Road signs, billboards, advertisements in the malls, newspaper and magazines – even our food is packaged in visual messages. This course introduces the student to the fascinating world of visual communications. We’ll discuss visual theories of how humans perceive and process information. We’ll look at how advertisers use the power of images to attract our attention, and how movies stir our emotions with sound, imagery, and timing.
When done well, visual communications is invisible – you experience the information; but when done poorly, you become frustrated, confused, or worse – simply ignore the jumbled mix of images and words. This course is for those who want to help shape the visual world around them. After completing this course, you’ll never look at a film, watch a television program, or read a magazine the same! You’ll realize the power of visuals and how it shapes and manipulates our views of the world.
Turning In Homework
Homework is always due at the beginning of class. Homework turned in after the beginning of class will be deducted one letter grade and another letter grade for each day thereafter.
Studying and learning the material weekly will not only mean that you will do well on your quiz, but it will also prepare you for the mid-term and the final.
Presenting Homework from Your Jump Drive
When you arrive in class, find your seat and insert the jump drive into your computer. Take the file you have made and open it so I can view your assignment when I stop by your desk.
Week 1
We explore the human communication process and its relationship to the visual-problem solving process.
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To communicate, the potential viewer must be first become aware that a message is being communicated. One visual cue for attractions is through the use of color.
Another visual cue for attraction is motion. We’ll study the mechanics of the eye and how saccades are essential to our vision. We study how the orienting response is use to hold the viewer’s attention
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Using unconventional to create visual attraction
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Using typography to convey meaning
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The Gestalt principles
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Design principles of emphasis, balance, and unity
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Design principles of rhythm. Rhythm is important to the pacing of information. Plus, in the digital age, there is motion and sound as well as print.
Midterm
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Visual persuasion. Whether for advertising or a public service announcement, others try to persuade us with images ranging from shocking to humorous.
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Visually communicating through Graphic design and visual communications.
The problems of perceptual blindness, expectation, and habitation.
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Visually communicating through Photography and photojournalism. Topics include picture superiority.
We look at what makes a good photography.
The field of photojournalism
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Visually communicating through Cartoons. We study how political opinions are expressed through editorial illustrations. We also look at how stories are told through sequential art of comic panels.
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Visually communicating over the Internet. Online reading and its impact on newspaper and linear reading. Interaction and interface design. The power of viral advertising with videos.
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Visually communicating through Films. We explore how camera angles and framing is used to convey meaning. We’ll look at how film title treatments add to our visual experience, and how sound deepens our experience and helps retention.
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Visually communicating through Packaging and branding. Semiotics and the study of signs. Using visuals to create brand characters to help with retention and building relations with products.
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Visually communicating through Maps and charts.
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