A Philosophy of Communication

Behind the act of publication is the idea of communication. Taking a document to print or posting a document online is just one step in a process of communication.

Communication is the transfer of ideas from one individual to another individual. Generally, this takes place using a medium of exchange, such as words, images, sounds, touches, or even smells.

Publication is a replicable visual (or audio) representation of an idea that can be passed on to another person. Publication differs from communication in that it has the potential for preservation and repetition. It is a public form of communication.

Much of what we will be studying in this course relates to creating an excellent publication. However, publication is nothing if it does not effect communication. Communication is the point of it all.