Why this topic?
This broad question stemmed from a simple thought. How important is language in design? Specifically, to graphic designers. Obviously, language has a major importance.
When given the task to create not only designs, but content (mainly the copy) for them as well, how many can actually say that we are up to this task of creating both?
Many a times we find ourselves in a spot, where these difficulties affect our ability to bring our designs to their fullest potential. This came to my attention as I was browsing through work by fellow peers. Surprisingly, most seem to encounter the challenges of language. Even myself.
Is there then, a solution to this problem?
What is Language?
Language is the human capacity for acquiring and using complex systems of communication, and a language is any specific example of such a system. The scientific study of language is called linguistics.
Natural languages are spoken or signed, but any language can be encoded into secondary media using auditory, visual, or tactile stimuli – for example, in graphic writing, braille, or whistling.
When used as a general concept, “language” may refer to the cognitive ability to learn and use systems of complex communication, or to describe the set of rules that makes up these systems, or the set of utterances that can be produced from those rules.
Humans acquire language through social interaction in early childhood, and children generally speak fluently when they are approximately three years old. The use of language is deeply entrenched in human culture. Therefore, in addition to its strictly communicative uses, language also has many social and cultural uses, such as signifying group identity, social stratification, as well as social grooming and entertainment.
In comparison to language, design is the creation of a plan or convention for the construction of an object or a system.
Communication design however, is a mixed discipline between design and information-development which is concerned with how media intermission such as printed, crafted, electronic media or presentations communicate with people.
A communication design approach is not only concerned with developing the message aside from the aesthetics in media, but also with creating new media channels to ensure the message reaches the target audience. Some designers use graphic design and communication design interchangeably due to overlapping skills.
Conclusion
All in all, though my research has helped me to understand my area of interest better, I feel that there is still much more for me to look into regarding the language in design.
The articles and videos that I’ve come across do bring many interesting thoughts to mind. While it is common to think that we, as designers, should work with copywriters to produce the best possible outcome, we are often challenged to take that task upon ourselves when resources are stretched.
Then again, there are many different aspects to language in design. Language does not necessarily have to be in the form of writing, or speech. It can also be a visual language, another form of aethetics entirely. One possible area to continue in research would be the impact and usage of typography and how it has matured through print into the now digital era.
With the advancement of technology and improvement of communication means becoming increasingly available to larger numbers of people each day, language has transformed into something new, and even now, people are looking towards a universal language to break down communication barriers amongst all cultures which in turn promotes the free flow of ideas towards the betterment of our lives.
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