Visual Communication Online
Social semiotics is a field of study that deals with and looks at the ways in which people create meaning using signs and signals in social and cultural circumstances. In particular, how layout and visuals can impact the meanings that people interpret from visual communication. The origins of this methodology are primarily attributed to British linguist Michael Halliday - who first introduced the term in 1978. The theory was later built upon by Robert Hodge and Gunther Press, who originally framed their work on social semiotics around linguistics, though the study now expands past that realm ( Adami et al, 2022 ). Social semiotics is important, as it provides a framework for interpreting meaning-making in social contexts. There are a few rules to consider when it comes to the social semiotic approach. Photo/visual aid placement and composition is crucial, and highly specific. Top vs. Bottom: Typically, the top of an image is thought to represent aspirations and imagination,...
