Does the Democratization of Design influence the way we understand Multimodal Visual Communication of Text?
Visual communication of text , which is the “grammar” of visual design, not only focuses on the connotative meanings in images, but also emphasizes the importance of composition and layout (Van, 2005). Visual communication has two semiotic principles, which are connotation and metaphor (Van, 2005). “Typographic communication is multimodal” (Van, 2005). Typography builds the meaning of text with elements such as letter form, color, three-dimensionality, and material texture (Van, 2005). How could the democratization of design influence the way we understand multimodal visual communication of text? The Democratization of Design breaks professional limits and expands the way in which designers use design thinking to create works. The multimodal visual communication of text uses multiple forms to spread the meaning and information to the public. The Democratization of Design serves to spread meaning and information more effectively and express them more accurately.
The Democratization of Design breaks the professional boundaries of creating design works. The concepts of design works come from all kinds of people, and individuals all know their own needs. Individuals in society with different abilities have the same position as professionals to work in socially responsible issues (Beacham & Shambaugh, 2011). When the advent of the Information Age came, people began to use the internet to comprehend events, information, official advice, and international views easily (Beach & Shambaugh, 2011). Individuals who have access to the design process can use their abilities to create feasible designs in different areas (Beacham & Shambaugh, 2011). Historically, designers found it challenging to make their products for “common citizen” (Beacham & Shambaugh, 2011). The Democratization of Design offers opportunities to let everyone use their concepts and work through issues of all types, and makes it easier for individuals to focus on the ideas of design as a way to create good works (Beacham & Shambaugh, 2011).
Democratization means that design can better meet the real needs from people’s requirements. The designer’s outcome, as a main player, is limited by the client and user. The designer has to find a real problem from the user, and multimodal visual communication of text has several forms that can address this problem (Whiting, 2011). It is necessary to use different design processes to treat different problems. When the society becomes more complex, the situations and forms of multimodal visual communication no longer only consider the designer as the role to deal with all the problems (Beacham & Shambaugh, 2011). As stated in Whiting’s article , “how do we make it better” when the situation happens (Beacham & Shambaugh, 2011)? The better solution is that everyone will have access to understanding and using design thinking, so that they can improve their lives and create a better future by their own hand (Beacham & Shambaugh, 2011).
The Democratization of Design uses multimodal visual communication to widely spread the meaning and information of text, and to highly influence people in many aspects of their lives. As stated in the journal “Other peoples can be better understood through their culture, one aspect of which is their designed world”(Beacham & Shambaugh, 2011). The multimodal visual communication of text exists everywhere in our daily lives. It uses many forms of media as tunnels, spreading the culture of design, making design become a basic component of everyone’s lives. Design problems exist in advertisements, magazines, and stores. Even a signpost contains design concepts (Whiting, 2011). People are exposed to a large amount of information about design. In anywhere, at any time, they can receive the design images.
Democratization of design finds the real problems from the user’s real need, and the solutions of “it is established as actual need” (Whiting, 2011). In the process, people’s understanding about multimodal visual communication of text evolves through these multiple forms that spread the concepts of design far more accurately and instructively.
In conclusion, the multimodal visual communication of text uses multiple forms to present meaning, information and design concepts to the public. In the process of democratizing design, the mystique of the designer is removed and the professional boundaries of design are broken. The best solution for how to meet people’s real needs is that everyone can use design process to make their lives better. Multimodal visual communication of text spreads the meaning and information more effectively and accurately. Everyone has different abilities, aesthetic standards, educational backgrounds, life experiences, and have served in different socially responsible roles. The Democratization of Design not only allows them to meet their needs, but also makes the range of design wider and more colorful. In the future, everyone can be a designer.
References
Van Leeuwen, T. (2005). Typographic meaning. Visual Communication, 4(2), 137-143. doi: 10.1177/1470357205053749
Whiting, P. (2011). If designers are problem solvers: What is a “real” problem, a problem for whom? Design Principles and Practices: An International Journal, 5(3), 553-562.
Beacham, C., & Shambaugh, N. (2011). Contemporary uses of design thinking across society, work, and the individual. Design Principles and Practices: An International Journal, 5(5), 337-347.
Van Leeuwen, T. (2005). Typographic meaning. Visual Communication, 4(2), 137-143. doi: 10.1177/1470357205053749
Whiting, P. (2011). If designers are problem solvers: What is a “real” problem, a problem for whom? Design Principles and Practices: An International Journal, 5(3), 553-562.
Beacham, C., & Shambaugh, N. (2011). Contemporary uses of design thinking across society, work, and the individual. Design Principles and Practices: An International Journal, 5(5), 337-347.
Brainstrom process
