The Study Of Visual Psychology In Graphic Design Of Characters

In this paper the author analyzes visual psychology in graphic display of characters, which is increasingly popularized in design, for the purposes of self-conscious using, profoundly understanding and enjoying graphic design of characters. Firstly the author describes the meaning of graphic design of characters, reviews the current development and the history of graphic design of characters, and summarizes the latest progress in visual perception theory and art psychology. With some typical cases, the author also analyzes the application of visual psychology to graphic design of characters. The paper underlines theoretical principles and innovation methods for graphic design of characters and discovers the aesthetical means transferred visually by graphic characters. The author hopes the analysis will be helpful to innovations in graphic design of characters. The paper is divided into three parts. The first part of the paper describes the meaning of graphic display of characters in graphic design. The description of origin of characters and application of characters to current graphic design reveals that graphic display of Chinese characters in graphic design is quite popularized and widely used. Since characters are developed from graphics, characters are closely related to graphics. The development of characters undergoes three periods: graphic period, graphic-character period and pure character period. Graphic display of characters is a new means in modern design and has the feature of the epoch. Its value and meaning cannot be underestimated. Graphic characters have not only the nature of graphics but also the function of meaning denotation, which is not possessed by graphics. With the development of history, the "graphic" function of characters is strengthened increasingly and visual psychological action plays even stronger function in graphic design of characters and takes more important position in modern design. The second part of the paper mainly describes such theories on visual perception and art psychology as the topological perception theory proposed by Chen Lin and the Gestalt theory investigated by Rudolf Arnheim as well as some implemental concepts. The author summarizes the functions of graphic display of characters in visual art psychology. The major functions are affirmation of advantages of graphic design of characters in visual communication, summation of innovation experience in graphic design of characters and indication of innovation principles in graphic design of characters. The third part of the paper investigates with specific cases how to make graphic design of characters by means of visual factors in graphic design, including the functions of image and its base, illusion, allomerism and moving sensation in graphic design of characters.