Impact of Visual Culture and Design on People

Visual Culture is a created or observed visual representation of our world.  In all the ways we as humans make ways to represent ourselves in a visual way.  In the same way, visual culture is as different as we are different. The oldest evidences of visual cultural activity, dating back some 25,000 years B.C.E., are cave paintings of objects, human figures, animals and symbols.

Visual culture is the shared practice of a group, a community through which meaning is made of the visual, oral and textual world of representation.  Visual culture is a society, a way of life; it is the about how we tie our shoelaces, what we eat, what we drink, what we do, what we wear, it is our lifestyle.   It is not a set of things per se, but a set of processes and practices – the ways in which we define ourselves. Visual culture causes us to look, feel and act a certain way. Through experience and experimentation, we have increased our understanding of the visual world and how we are influenced by it.

The concept of visual culture refers to the specific relation between vision and understanding. A single picture is worth a thousand words. Our everyday experiences have become way more visual than ever. Our brain processes visuals faster. Visual Culture consists of objects of the everyday experience such as television, billboards, magazines, music videos and fashion that present ideas and stories that shape people’s lives.

Also, movies overtime have been a constant influence to men and women alike since the black and white era. For instance, if I talk about movies such as Umrao Jaan and Mughal-e-azam and the grandeur of those movies, everything from the sets, makeup, costumes etc. is designed in a certain way in order to create a huge impact on the minds of the audiences. 

Everything that is visual has a design to it, whether done deliberately or unconsciously. It is about more than just appearance. It can change people’s lives. It’s rooted in our everyday lives to help people live safely, efficiently and comfortably. Design has slipped into our subconscious in such a level, that we instantly interpret and recognize the signs and symbols on the roads. So unknowingly or knowingly design has become a daily part of our lives and is inevitable now.

If someone looks at a product as a good design or enters a beautifully designed space, they simultaneously develop a feeling toward it and soon make a deeper connection with it subconsciously.  A good design is able to make a close connection with the users and exerts an influence on their lives. People get used to one design for example if one thinks of Mc’Donalds, the colors - red, yellow and white, instantly come to their mind, in not more than a fraction of a second. If suddenly Mc’Donalds thinks of changing their logo or their color scheme, it would really affect the brand in a negative way as people would feel cheated on. Design, thus, greatly influences our lives in more ways than most of us realize.