A Description of the Field -- Design and Communication -- The Designer and Other Professionals -- "Graphic Design" versus "Visual Communication Design" -- The Presence of the Designer in the Message -- Information, Redundancy, and Noise -- Reality and Creativity -- Creativity and Communication -- Communication and Aesthetics -- The Main Purpose of Visual Communication Design -- Historical Context -- The Nineteenth Century -- The Twentieth Century -- The Design of Typefaces -- Design Principles: Functional Requirements -- Perception and Meaning -- Language and Signification -- Communication -- Aesthetics -- Methods and Planning -- Design Methods -- The Design Process -- The Practice: Professional Areas -- Design for Information -- Design for Persuasion -- Design for Education -- Design for Administration -- Elements and Systems -- Two Dimensions, Three Dimensions, and Movement -- Computer Technologies and Communication Design -- The Computer as a Production Tool -- Design for Electronic Media -- Culture and Society.