Visual communication is not a new phenomenon; it is a primal instinct of humans to convey messages to other people visually. Experiences require visual perception. Without it, we would find it difficult to survive.
We used visual stimuli to record dangers, spatial perspectives, and much more in primaeval times. For example, the red colour on mushrooms is a warning not to eat the poisonous toadstool. Visual stimuli and cues are still important in today’s modern world, from toxic plants to dangerous animals to warning signs such as red traffic lights and red stop signs. Visual stimuli help us orient ourselves and survive in the world.
Perceptual Proximity
In the day, each person is confronted with countless amounts of information from the environment around us. Each day, people perceive thousands of sensory impressions, mostly unconsciously. Various body parts such as the eyes, ears, nose, tongue, and skin are used for this purpose. Depending on the individual and their uniquely pronounced sensory channels, information is perceived and passed on to the brain, which processes and decodes it into meaningful information. People perceive 80 per cent of all information visually, which is why visual communication is so important.
Many people document their everyday life on apps including Snapchat and Instagram Stories or express their feelings through text messages sprinkled with emojis. Pictures have great potential for powerful communication because they trigger emotions, tell stories, form associations, and give context to text-based messages. Visual impressions are also remembered longer and convey important information that text alone cannot. One advantage of visual communication is “perceptual proximity” or the association of nearby objects. In this way, visible abstract signs can be automatically translated into a single image in the brain.
Nevertheless, because the number and the variety of interpretations of visual messages are so great today, people have had to learn to “read” and understand visual messages by recognizing and assigning them meaning since our characters are also graphic symbols.
The number and the variety of interpretations of visual messages are so great today, people have had to learn to “read” and understand visual messages by recognizing and assigning them meaning since our characters are also graphic symbols.
Need for Visual Communication
Our everyday life is full of pictures, no matter where we are. We find them on signs, posters, e-mails and chats, brochures, and websites. To understand how photos, videos, and graphics play a role, it is first important to view visuals as a form of communication media, which, like written or spoken language, serves the purpose of conveying messages.
Even when we speak, we use visual communication in the form of facial expressions and gestures to express ourselves. Just consider body language as one form of visual communication: a non-verbal language perceived by the eyes and applied universally between people. Two examples include the wrinkling of our foreheads when we are confused or frustrated, the lifting of the corners of our mouths when we are happy about something. Finally, emotions are also conveyed using this form of visualization.
Expanding our knowledge and understanding of visual communication, in all of its forms, is increasingly essential in today’s world.
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