Visual communication and culture: Design education for a globalized world

Abstract

In an age of readily available technologies and rapidly expanding communication, opportunities for cross-cultural relationships and business practices have extended from the primarily wealthy and powerful to those on a more global scale. As a result of these advancements, a need for specialized knowledge in visual and media literacy has arisen; one that requires not only an understanding of why but how we communicate to societies different than our own. One major area significantly affected by this transformation is the field of graphic design, where practitioners now find themselves in the position to work with international clientele and design for global audiences. As a result, rebuilding and modernizing this practice to fit the needs of a specialized-yet pivotal-industry has become a necessity; a transformation that must begin in the classroom. This chapter aims to explain how a variety of cultural variances affect the major components of visual literacy and communication, while also providing examples of curricular content, pedagogical methods, and student projects which may be used as a basis for integrating cultural studies into graphic design education.