How Communication Design Works

The field of communication design is undergoing a transformation: an overwhelming flood of information, fake news, bots, AI, social media, primitive graphic tools on the internet, as well as the speed of processes and increasing pressure for efficiency, along with competition in the design sector and sometimes precarious working conditions. All of this puts communication designers under pressure, leaving little time to reflect on their own actions. This handbook responds to the current situation to shed new light on the societal relevance of the discipline within professional practice. The authors draw on their extensive expertise, practical examples, and actionable suggestions to highlight what truly matters in visual communication. They describe the far-reaching interconnections of design with various fields and engage deeply with current challenges. The overarching guiding principle is: communication design is always the result of the attitudes of its practitioners - how their actions influence communication, what values are conveyed, and how our visual world ultimately looks is made clear in this compendium.