The Executive Council of the International Advisory Board

The Executive Council of the International Advisory Board

The Executive Council of the International Advisory Board

Graphic design is the most effective art form to quickly communicate a message to
the viewer. People are influenced by skillful storytelling, which can provide both a
logical and an emotional investment (Wroblewski, 2007). A visual communication
craftsperson can efficiently stir the emotions in his or her audience through various
tools of storytelling such as typography and iconography.
Typography is an illustrative technique that has been wielded by designers for
centuries (Flask, 2009). Researchers suggest that creative typography and color is
useful in technical communication (Keys, 1993) and is most influential in Web design
(Mowery, 2011). It is all around us, in every medium. In my basic visualization
courses and in my upper level motion tools courses, typography is a staple in digital
design projects.
Another design tool that has been used for centuries is iconography. A few of many
examples of iconography in film, photographs, or paintings include religious icons
used to ward off vampires, a hero cowboy dressed in white, or a rustic world of
desperation (Grant, 20017). Iconography symbols are used as a design element that
give viewers an immediate understanding. For example, symbols are used to illustrate
which restroom to use, the power button of a device, or which direction to take. We
understand these icons and interpret their meaning at a moment's glance. This paper
provides effective usages and examples of typography and iconography.

James Livingston