Research and inspiration

Visual practice = a greater understanding

Through the ‘visual practice’ of observation, collecting, studying and exploring a subject, topic or theme, this will contribute to a deeper understanding of the subject.

I believe that people practicing visual communication should be constantly looking up other visual communicators. This should be done because we should always be looking at others work, both for inspiration and reference. Old art often influences new forms of visual communication, so we need to look at others works so we can study their characteristics. Simultaneously if we want to come up with new ideas we can look back to see if our idea have ever bee done or attempted in any way or form.
When it come to doing a visual project, such as my magazine, it is important to refer to other work to get ideas. Most importantly, you need to make the piece of media fit in with others of its kind, and look suitable and in place with its competitors and within the products, market place.
I further feel that; observing, collecting, studying and exploring a subject, topic or theme, will contribute to a deeper understanding of the subject. These aspects of research and historical reference, all combine to help you be much more knowledgeable of the subject and its market and audience. This greater understanding of visual practice, allows us to challenge stereotypes, find inspiration and interpret and understand pieces of visual communication.


Understanding an Audience

An understanding and knowledge of ‘an audience’ should enhance and focus the communication.

When creating any piece of media or visual communication, one of the first things you have to think about is your audience. The audience, are the people that are going to see, watch, or read the thing that you have created. You need to have an understanding of audience in order to aim your at, so that you have at target market and audience.
For example, ‘Films’, films are categorized into genres. An audience will pick a genre such as; horror, they will have certain expectations when they see the horror film. When creating something such as a film you need to pick a genre, such as, horror. You then need to play and follow the generic conventions of the genre, so that you film appeals to, and has an audience.
An understanding and knowledge of ‘audience’ enhances you ability to produce something that appeals to a vast amount of people. This means that the piece of work in which you create is a good and successful piece of visual communication, which speaks to people in a way they can understand.