Meaning...

Concepts... conveyances... design... so much to think about... so much to consider...

In an ideal situation, any one of the headings and/or subheadings in the Krause text could be at least one full course unto itself. Some could easily be a series of courses, each an in-depth study that could prove useful to a new designer hoping to make sense of the principles of visual communication.

As we begin to incorporate the ideas from the Krause text into our design projects, we may begin to notice an aesthetic developing — a sense of style that defines our own sense of meaning and how we best perceive the communication of such meaning in our work. The conveyance of a concept or meaning, regardless of the mode or medium, is contingent on an underlying lexicon of shared meanings by which and to which the components, colors, text, illustrations, and images in our design can be attached. Below is a short video I did on semiotics which discusses the process of signification, or the process by which images (symbols, indexes and icons) can be used to convey a concept or meaning.

We can see how the practice of audience analysis among many other rhetorical considerations are crucial to establishing the thematic significance of our design. Depending on the purpose of the communication or design, failing to understand the audience and the shared meanings within which the communication will be used, determines the effectiveness of the design at its foundation. In terms of instructional design, a misread or lack of adequate time and attention to these will mean the difference between a successful and an unsuccessful learning experience.

Determine what the concept is, what it is we are conveying, and imagine the variety of ways that concept can be communicated to the intended audience. Consider the symbols, images, colors and textual components that can illustrate the concept and develop a theme based on your voice as a designer/communicator that best establishes the conveyance of the concept most effectively.

In my project for this class I have chosen to create a module which can help students who are new to websites and WYSIWYG web design interfaces to get started using a web builder like Wix.com to feature the work they do in a program like EDIT. As a student myself, with experience in this area, I am able to create modules that can explain the essentials of using a site like wix.com, and as a music instructor and designer, I can assess the learning or training needed to design an effective learning experience for the intended audience.