Universal Visual Language

 

Universal Visual Language

Universal Visual Language is the process of communication  which uses visual material in order for it to be accessible to as many people as possible. It avoids language barriers, illiterate problems, etc. in the use of imagery and universal semiotics. It is often used in the design industry as the company's work may need to appeal to a global audience, for example, as apposed to a local audience were the language and cultural barriers would not be impeded.

One of the founders of it is the one and only Bauhaus. In this time period it was not uncommon to be illiterate, and so Bauhaus had to find a way to overcome this communication barrier so they could teach all of their students. They used visual techniques such bold colours, shapes and textures to aid them in this venture, using it alongside verbal language as so to make the visual language not a stand-alone function but to go hand in hand with the verbal language. This method especially aided the students who were lacking in discipline, allowing them to focus in a totally different perspective on such things as the contextual element of art and design. Bauhaus was filled with intimidating names such as Klee and even Kandinski. These two artists were two of a handful of artists and engineers who developed visual language, and they later went on to create a successful textbook, 'Language of Vision', explaining the fundamental values of visual language.