“Noise” of Design

“Noise”

There are “Noises” from the very beginning of the communication channels.

Sender >>> Encode >>> Receiver >>> Decode

Along the chain of communication the “Noise” that got into the system unintentionally will pollute the intended message before reaching the final understanding stage. It is our task as a designer to do the “Noise management” within the communication context on behalf of our clients.

Sometimes we may be overwhelmed by the clients’ requests or our very own taste bud bite for aesthetic and revolutionary design ideas. This moment of ideas formulation stage is where the contagious killing point rubs in to build a defect on visual communication design.

Not like words, visual articulation is mush more difficult to form narration in order to reach digestible notion. Most of our pre-education were not enough for the said task, thus make many Graphic Designer contribute as technician rather than real designer.

As I observe many art colleges in Malaysia still concentrate on skill fostering, again students are always easily being drawn to beautiful illustration rather than true design education.

Visual communication is trickier platform as pictorial or colour may provoke different understanding to an individual from different race, gender or cultural background.
It is even worst when the true understanding of message is under the mercy of our very own cognitive variables.

So it is always good to understand the root (culture) of one specific target group before choosing the design element.

To code an example from the sharing above, the alphabet “F” may provoke different understanding within one perception, i.e. such as

“ I don’t wan to “F” you!” so what you have in mind now?

* Noise – any interference that may effect or distort the communication message.
Example – “Technical noise” > Refer to the ill printed cast shadow text by the printing machine, thus effect the legibility & readability of reading.