Visual communications can be just as effective as verbal or written communications and in some cases the comprehension of the visual is much faster than that of the written - especially in a foreign country. Symbols are one of the more common forms of visual communication used throughout the world. Symbols for washrooms, pedestrian crossings etc, are instantly recognizable without the need for an interpreter or foreign language text book.

Layout position and font choices, especially in magazines, can have a subliminal influence on the person seeing the item. Heavy, dark images can be depressing whereas fine lines and swirly text can give an impression of lightness and happiness. Color choices can also play a part in the initial impact on the target audience.