Humanizing Visual Design: The Rhetoric of Human Forms in Practical Communication (Routledge Studies in Technical Communication, Rhetoric, and Culture) delves into the pivotal role that human figures play in making practical information more understandable, accessible, inviting, and meaningful to readers. Although these figures have been utilized for centuries in various forms of communication, they have not been systematically analyzed until now. Author Charles Kostelnick draws upon rhetorical theory, art history, design studies, and a wealth of historical and contemporary examples to explore the multifaceted purposes that human forms serve in functional pictures. These include empowering readers, narrating processes, invoking social and cultural identities, fostering pathos appeals, and visualizing data.

The book is aimed at scholars, teachers, and practitioners in business, technical, and professional communication, as well as an interdisciplinary audience encompassing rhetoric, art and design, journalism, engineering, marketing, science, and history. Through rigorous analysis and engaging examples, Kostelnick provides valuable insights into the effective use of human forms in visual communication.

ISBN-13: 978-1351628235

Publisher: Routledge

Publication Date: March 28, 2019