The Analysis On Dongba Characters & Symbols And Its Inspiration To Graphic Design

A main function of modern graphic design is communication via visual figure and image. Graphic arts with symbolic features are not only abstract but also expressible. It reflects cognition of aesthetic intention. The study of symbolization of expressible features in graphic design and art can fully develop the usage of graphics in visual communication.Dongba characters have a thousand years' history. They are the early form of origin of language. They are still used as primal pictorial symbols. They contain ancient cultural information. Dongba characters can be used for communications as any linguistic form. Over the long course of history, they began to become a graphic symbol system and the characters contain symbolized meaning of information, they have a feature of dualism with both language and graphic aspect. The characters of Dongba word-formation and their graphic features provide a possibility to use it as a kind of visual symbol in modern graphic design.In this article, I will begin from an analyzation on the principle of the characters of Dongba' word-formation and their graphic features then search a joined point between them and modern graphic design. I will also attempt to search and create individualized and stylized visual language through using the characters of Dongba as design elements in their symbolized expressible feature.