Chapter One - Visual Communication

As of last week, we were to read and outline chapter one. In this chapter, it discusses different aspect of visual communication, such as seeing and how the eye actually works. As the chapter continued, I found that there are five parts to clear communication. These include: sender, message, medium, receiver, and feedback. In order to communicate clearly, you must first brainstorm. This involves determining the audience, conducting interviews (research), finding the purpose, and defining the intended reaction. The next step is to choose a medium. This is how the message gets out to people (brochure, web, radio, newspaper, etc.) When it comes to mediums, we must eliminate as much noise as possible. This means that words should be easily understood, not hard to interpret; otherwise it is known as semantic noise. Static on the radio, smeared ink in a newspaper, and links that do not work on the web, are all examples of channel noise. We must also keep in mind the receiver, by keeping it personal and memorable, yet simple. The final element of clear communication is feedback. While feedback is ongoing between two people talking, it however, is not always immediate. 

The last part of the chapter elaborated on the seven different theories of visual communication. 

Not going into detail, the list includes: Omniphasism, Gestalt, Semiotics, Constructivism, Ecological, Cognitive, and Huxley-Lexter,