Academic and Professional Discourse Communities Essay

Academic and Professional Discourse Communities - Essay Example iscuss what constitutes literacy in the discourse of graphic design and how one can achieve and demonstrate literacy within the graphic design discourse community. In the discourse of graphic design community, there are various methods that are involved in creating and combining symbols, words, and images in order to create a communication design or visual representation of messages and ideas. Literacy in graphic design would mean a mastery of the discourse, hence ability of a graphic designer to use a combination of the techniques of visual arts, typography, and page layout in order to produce final results of the practice of design. This process is hence referred to as a designing process in which some form of communication is created and design products are created. James Gee in his writing gives a sociological and a psychological approach to literacy. He asserts that literacy focus is a social practice and that it is not only the way you say it, but exactly what you are saying an d that which you are doing when saying it. Gee defines literacy in the parameters of discourse as a mastery of a particular secondary discourse. The graphic design discourse community has specific social and personal goals that they work towards meeting in the community. For instance, graphic designers are charged with the responsibility of creating visual communication to the people. They are expected to use techniques of visual arts, typography, and page layout in order to produce final results of the practice of design. Some of the specific goals they meet include creating identities such as branding and, publications like news papers, magazines and books, product packaging as well as advertisement. For instance, a graphic design discourse community aims at creating a product package that includes logo as well as other network, pure elements of design and an organized text like color and shapes that unify the piece of work. Therefore it is the goal, both at personal level and