Graphic communications also referred to as visual communications, can be defined in simplest terms as any form of communication that relies on visual cues to transmit a message to people. However, the complex nature of how graphic communications are interpreted by viewers has greater implications than this. The creative minds that create graphic images make use of colors, textures, contours and shapes that communicate not just messages but also emotions, attitudes, experiences, lifestyles and concepts. Like art, graphic representation has the power to reach beyond language, class, sex, education, geography and age so as to reach a much larger audience. Graphics are also easily identifiable and memorable, often leaving a lasting impression on viewers that words alone are unable to compete with.
Graphic representation is one of the most powerful tools available to communicate ideas, concepts, messages and instructions. In any given day a single person will see hundreds, if not thousands, of examples of graphic communication through encounters with advertisements, signage, logos, labels, maps, drawings, diagrams and instructional graphics. Unlike verbal or written communication, which is intrinsically limited by language and dependent on a willing listener or reader, graphics have the unique ability to convey a message with a single image that can transcend language and attention barriers so as to be universally accessible.
According to the Graphic Arts Education and Research Foundation, the graphic communications industry is a modernized version of the printing industry. Technology has transformed the way people create, distribute and work with graphics, so printers have adapted to this technological evolution by embracing the use of digital graphics and computer generated animation.
