communication design ... what?

Communication design is a sub-discipline of design which is concerned with how media intermission such as printed, crafted, electronic media or presentations communicate with people. A communication design approach is more concerned with messages communicated than aesthetics in media. The distinction between communication design and other applied arts is in the motivation: while the communication design process does involve a certain amount of self-expression and creativity, the goals are often those of the commissioning body rather than the artist's, and the parameters set by the commissioning body are often more constraining.

The term communication design is often used interchangeably with visual communication and more specifically graphic design, but has an alternate broader meaning that includes auditory communications as well as visual. Examples of Communication Design include information architecture, editing, typography, illustration and professional writing skills applied to creative industries.

Once graduate... where to go? what to do?

• a graphic designer,
• a creative director
  
• art director in an advertising or public relations firm or design consultancy
• a publication designer for a newspaper or magazine or an interactive media designer who designs or manages web sites.

(A concentration in communication design can lead to a career in many different fields. You may use your creative, aesthetic and technical skills to create visual communication pieces that are used by companies and organizations to sell products and services, or to present information in a memorable and meaningful way. As a communication designer, you could create everything from packing and web sites to advertisements, magazine covers and story layouts.)


IF you have these qualities... Mass Communication Design might be for you...

• Creative Mind – electronic media designers see things a little differently than others and allow their imaginations to work to their advantage.
• Visually Literate – the Mass Communication students will have an interest in all forms of visual communication, from photography and motion picture to fine arts.
• Intense Focus – majors are motivated through intense interest in all forms of media and entertainment.
• Self-Motivation – Mass Communication majors are independent thinkers who take pride in their work and value a good product.
• A sense of humor – majors appreciate the occasional “happy accidents” that always happen while learning new media.
• Productive Play – enjoy your time as a team player contributing to the design of a media project.
• A Critical Eye – your notice the details of what constitutes a good web design over one that needs to go back to the drawing board.
• Interest in the World – as a Mass Communication Specialist you work with all kinds of media and all kinds of clients; and your interest in world gives you the freedom to explore.