I have a college project, in which i need to create a visual pen letter, for someone who can't speak or write english, and one thing i need to do is show that i am a graphic design student.
Does anyone have any idea of how i can show graphic design visually? or what it represents?
as am really struggling to come up with something

Yeah thats a tough one, I may have to chew on it for a while...if I come up with something I will post back.

Yeah i know, its been really getting to me all day, I was at first thinking of apple's logo and stuff, but thats too generic.
I really feel my teacher hasn't thought this one out properly, as someone who can't speak or read english, may not have or understand what graphic design is in their language or culture!!

yeah, is your pen pal going to be someone who is educated, etc? In graphic design you ahve to consider your audience before you shape your message right?

The pen pal is imaginary, and I have no idea if they are educated, its for someone who can't speak or write english.

My arguement is that, alot of graphic design is classed as design due to the type with the image to make it a whole, for example an advert with no type or copy, just becomes a photograph, unless the brand logo is famous all around the world.
an illustration with no type becomes just an illustration etcetra,
so this is where my problem lies, as i feel type is a fundamental and important part of Graphic design

do it with pictograms, they're supposed to be international, and good ones should not need type :)

an illustration with no type becomes just an illustration
Thats where you're wrong see. All Illustrations (shapes) contains messages, moods, emotions, sounds etc. etc.

Best example i can give is, to take an illustration of a heart, everyone knows what it means, even as a simple outline you know what it stands for, no need for coloures or anything to support the message within that shape.

It's only a matter of finding the right shape, maybe even developing your own.

and what would, an ilustration be that sums up graphic design?

and what would, an ilustration be that sums up graphic design?
Why did i know you were gonna ask that question. :D


It's only you who gets cheated by not figuring it out by yourself.
I have no idea what so ever anyways, maybe a collage of different coloures, shapes and pictures, how should i know, i just work here :D

Something like a billboard or Newsletter (with squiggles for text) would probably give a good idea and at least get you in the advertising/graphic design/journalism vein.

:)

i agree with Cone - the idea of this project is not to ask others how to do it, its to figure it out yourself.

having said that, this is a semiotics problem: how to assign meaning to something. I would suggest you mindmap your thoughts about the term 'graphic design' as thats a good way to start to see meaning in something. Also you want to look at the different kinds of semiotic interpretant meanings (symbols, icons, and indexes) and try to figure a combo of one or all to best convey the meaning you are trying to show. Google it and you will find stuff that may be helpful.

Now i will admit this sounds like a lot of rhetoric but i am in a 6 credit design studio AND a 3 credit cultural studies class this semester that deals exactly with this stuff, so its just coincidental that i happen to be doing similar kinds of things. And i will say that once you start to understand how meaning is actually created it does help you do it better and more consistently, as well as more intelligently and creatively.