Visual Communication: From Theory to Practice(Required Reading Range)

Table of Contents:
How to use this book The Theory Foreword: Isn't design simply all about 'the visual'? The Practice Foreword Chapter One: Communication Aims of chapter 1 The Theory Introduction: Even natural processes have explanations Communication as a process Semiotics All design is political: part one Afterword: No more rules? The Practice Introduction Neville Brody Michael Bierut Questions in summary Chapter Two: Culture Aims of chapter 2 The Theory Introduction: Everyday visual communication What is culture? All design is political: part two Style and identity Afterword: 'Meaningful' is not the same as 'full of meaning'... The Practice Introduction Joan Farrer Shin Azumi and Tomoko Azumi Questions in summary Chapter Three: Conflict Aims of chapter 3 The Theory Introduction: Form versus function: Styling as communication All design is political: part three The political designer Design under threat? Afterword: Beneath the surface The Practice Introduction Erik Spiekermann Emmi Salonen Questions in summary Design/photography biographies Bibliography Index Credits

About the Author :
Jonathan Baldwin is the Associate Head of School of Art and Design, University of South Wales, Cardiff. He teaches and writes on issues related to popular culture, the media, graphic design and higher education and has experience working as a professional graphic designer and has contributed to many publications and conferences on art and design in higher education. Lucienne Roberts established the design studio sans+baum after a brief period at The Women's Press, hoping to ally a commitment to accessible and engaging design with a socially aware agenda. Roberts' new studio LucienneRoberts+ started at the end of 2006. Roberts was a signatory of the First Things First manifesto, has taught at Yale and the London College of Communication and was a D&AD judge in 2008. She is a regular contributor to Eye magazine and Grafik.

Review :
I love the way AVA lays out the content in their books. The quality of the books themselves as well as their content have been key factors in my using them as course materials. Introduces a critical framework within which to locate graphic design issues and activities ... I think this is a really good book ... It asks a lot of questions and challenges assumptions. Most students switch off during theory debates - but this puts the debate into context and illustrates arguments well. Overall Visual Communication: From Theory to Practice is a welcome addition to the expanding library of work that looks at graphic design in a broader and more contextual manner. Design programs would do well to look at incorporating this book into their curriculum. Pulling together theory and practice, and placing design at the heart of communication, this book is important for graphic design education. If you read this book you will pass all your design studies without even thinking about it! This book is excellent. It is beautifully presented and well printed. It is going to become a highly recommended book for my students throughout the course of their postgraduate studies ... This book will really help students get to grips with the links between theory and practice. Excellent, well informed and lucid book which effectively balances sophisticated and complex theoretical concepts with well chosen and relevant practical examples, serving to contextualise theory in a manner that I would expect to engage students at all levels of undergraduate design study. This is a well-written book, expertly designed by Bob Wilkinson and the sans+baum studio. This is a well-researched, no-nonsense look at the key cultural, social and political issues affecting the graphic designer of today.