Vignelli Canon

To expand my knowledge within the graphic design industry, I recently read 'Vignelli Canon' which explores the key features  of Graphic Design:

Semantics 

According to the book semantics is the search of the meaning of whatever we are designing. 

This relates to research, information, history, nature, competition, destination, final user and the real meaning of the subject and where it came from. 

I found that without semantics design is meaningless. Semantics in design must relate to the subject whilst connecting with the sender and receiver. It is essential to also have a flow of research to be familiar with the problem at hand. 

Syntactics 

Syntactics look at the way typefaces relate to each other, along with images and the way they also relate to one another. 

- Syntactical consistency is also vital within design and grids can help this process. 

Pragmatics 

Explore the way context adds to the meaning of design. It is necessary to understand starting points of projects to reach the final product sucessfully. 

As the Vignelli cannon book quotes: 

'we like design to be timeless as possible' 

'We like design to be beyond fashionable modes of contemporary fads'

'We despise the cultural of obsolence' 

Discipline 

- Attention to detail- Vignelli says 'cut out carelessness and daydreaming'.

- 'Within design quality is there or not there. There is no set hierarchy.'

- 'Have a positive mind set, set high goals, put in the hours.' 

- Detail is important because it is showed in the end result via combined ideas and shows your thought process.
- 'There is no design without discipline' 

Appropriateness 

Appropriateness within our research and designs enables us to use the correct media, materials, expression, colours and textures. This enables us to arrive at appropriate solutions. 

http://www.vignelli.com/canon.pdf