The Culture of Graphics

Graphics serve as a form of communication within and between cultures. Graphics can help represent an idea, provide clarification, or give direction for viewers. That’s the interesting thing about graphics: they can stand alone or work together with text to convey a direct message, and it’s up to the viewing culture to decide how to interpret the meanings behind the graphics.

Graphics are a growing communication media in the United States. Because we are a nation of convenience, we revel in the idea that a picture is worth a thousand words. We’d rather see one image instead of reading one hundred words to gather the same information that the single image provided. Icons and symbols are becoming part of our everyday lives because these representations make our lives that much more simple and convenient. We press buttons with certain pictures on them and we act in certain ways because of other pictures and what they mean. In theory, then, we are a nation controlled by pictures. It’s pretty crazy to think we are so easily manipulated by circles, triangles, and squares—and these are mere representations and not direct commands themselves.

We also design things with particular cultures in mind. Websites are designed with certain age groups or demographics as targeted customers, and companies spend millions of dollars to portray hip, trendy idealism to young people. Others spend the same amount to cater to responsible, professional adults. Children, musicians, teachers, and scientists—these are all groups of varying cultures that demand different approaches, and no one likes to cater better than the United States.

My current redesign project utilizes both information and promotion graphics to appeal to a certain culture. Text provides information on products individuals can buy, but accompanying information graphics display the actual product to bring the product to life. No longer does a buyer have to rely solely on text for a description of a product; now she has the ability to actually see the product before she buys it. In this manner, these images serve as both information and promotion graphics.

My entire redesign project—including the product images—should have a culture appeal since the design is tailored to college sororities. Sororities have a culture all their own, so redesigning a website for a company that sells to sororities must hit all the right keys. First, it should appeal to college women. Next, it should provide many pictures for women who want to see what they can buy. Then, it should be easy to access and even easier to use. Lastly, it should make those college sorority women want to come back and make future purchases. So, there are many things to consider with the culture of sororities, but information and promotion graphics make this type of redesign a breeze.

All in all, graphics play a vital role in providing information to viewers, whether they are in the same or different cultures. Images help define information into what is credible and what is simply neat. The use of the images is really what makes the difference.