How Communication Design Works

Reflections and practical action for the rapidly evolving discipline of visual communication.

How Communication Design Works addresses the radical changes occurring in the realm of communication design. This field is experiencing an overabundance of information, fake news, bots, AI, and crude graphic tools on the Internet. Additionally, the speed of processes and the increasing pressure to be efficient, coupled with heightened competition and sometimes precarious working conditions, place creatives under significant pressure. This environment leaves little time for reflection on their work.

This handbook responds to the current situation by shedding new light on the societal relevance of the discipline in the context of professional practice. The authors, Ulysses Voelker and Michael Schmitz, leverage their extensive expertise and practical work examples to provide actionable suggestions and identify what truly matters in visual communication.

They describe the interconnectedness of design with a wide range of issues and address current challenges in depth. The overarching theme is that communication design is always the result of the attitude of its protagonists. This compendium clarifies how their actions influence communication, the values conveyed, and the resulting appearance of our visual world.