The success of a piece of communication has always been dependent on the connection between content, form, audience and context - what the message is, who it's aimed at, what it looks like, and how and where it's communicated. In recent years the balance between these elements has shifted.
Graphic and communication designers have traditionally offered style and packaging solutions for brands and products. However, as the nature and complexity of brands has changed within our economy, a designer's ability to analyse, understand and clarify has become ever more important.
In this world, the thinking behind a communication outcome is much more significant to the income of a creative agency, and designers are often employed to help a client understand what sort of design they need, rather than simply to style up what a client thinks they want. It is this shift in the designer's role that this book examines, through themes of brand, experience, conversation, participation, navigation, advocacy and critique.
Providing educators, students and design practitioners with an overview of the most important and exciting developments in contemporary communication design, Communication Design identifies a series of emerging modes of creative practice to help clarify the mind and skill-sets that are inherent to successful working practice.
Industry Reviews
An important book and one that deserves a space on the shelves of communication
design students, educators and practitioners. -- James Corazzo * Art, Design & Communication in Higher Education *
[This book] explores design and art direction in a practical way that bridges the gap between in-class work and the professional world. * Eye Magazine *
This equally vivid and ambitious book features countless case studies and interviews with pioneering designers, covering complex issues ... An excellent base ... readers will be well-prepared for the start of their professional life. * PAGE (Bloomsbury Translation) *
This is an excellent resource for students with a wealth of interesting material of high value. * Tom Flint, Edinburgh Napier University, UK *
[Communication Design] has already become really valuable with my MA students, reinforcing the different trajectories of design practice they could engage with themselves. Now I have found the associated website I don't have to carry the book around with me so much! * Sadhna Jain, Course Leader, MA Graphic Design Communications, Chelsea College of Arts, University of the Arts, London, UK *
The definitive guide to modern branding ... [Communication Design is] an inspiring and humbling collection of talent. * Zeus Jones *
This is a great book, which will really help people to understand contemporary practice within graphic design and the creative industries. It tackles the bigger picture of visual communication, starting with the brand and following through into user experience, participation, navigation, advocacy and critique. The case studies and interviews are bang up to date and extremely insightful. A truly thought provoking and educational book. * Andy Ellison, Nottingham Trent University, UK *
