Communication Design

Hi Pratishtha,
A programme thats well-established at design schools in the US and Europe, Communication Design is gaining prominence at Indian design institutes because of the vast job scope. So, what does this area of design involve? Just as fashion designers use textiles as raw material to create clothes, Communication Designers use images, visuals and video as raw materials, to communicate ideas, advertise and promote products or services.
For instance, companies look for a logo that will be etched in the memories of consumers forever. Think Apple, Nike or even the Olympics. Known as brand identity, this is an upcoming area in India, which needs professionals with design skills and strategic thinking, a combination that Communication Design programmes aim to create.
Industry snapshot
~ Brand identity: Creating logos, pictograms, fonts and systems used by companies and organizations. It can also be applied to events or concepts.
~ Campaigns: Spanning all media platforms for commercial and social purposes TV, posters, flyers, interaction capsules, social media, print ads, direct mailers, newsletters, campaigns can be for the purpose of advertising or social development campaigns.
~ SFX industry: An up and coming area, theres a demand for technically savvy and creatively-minded individuals. Since the industry is in its infancy, this is the best time to break in!
~ e-learning design: Storyboards and interactivity are important elements in this field, which is growing in scope as e-learning becomes more popular.
~ Print publishing: Magazines, books and newspapers.
~ Packaging design: Enhancing the look of consumer products.
~ Broadcast design: Opening/closing credits, tickers and other aspects of films and TV programming.
~ User interface design: Typically, any product or service, where interactivity is an important feature, uses the support of good communication design. This includes design of retail spaces, websites, social media sites, computer & mobile interfaces, software applications, exhibition spaces, to name a few. For instance, in website design an understanding of information architecture is a must.
~ Event design: Conceptualizing the look and feel of exhibitions, events and conferences. Event management firm or be a professional.
~ Signage and way-finding systems: Signboards and pictograms for road networks, metro systems, malls, airports, company premises, parking lots and other public spaces like museums.
All the best.