Pictures, more than words, are capable of creating faster and stronger impressions. A striking characteristic of human memory is that pictures are remembered better than words and also with larger accuracy. Thomas Starr, a graphic design professor at Northeastern University, believes in creating stories by merging visual presentations into the verbal ones.
One of his projects includes a design of an apple and an orange to illustrate Jon von Neumann’s concept of similarities and differences between machine and wind as mentioned in his book named, “The Computer and the Brain”.
Starr believes in working with graphic designing on issues that concern the society. His works deal with the U.S. military deaths in Iraq, reproductive rights, gun violence, and many such issues that need attention. He considers himself responsible like any NGO or politician and thinks that his work can also attract attention to many important issues.
He drew designs on youth violence and child homicides by writing statements on the bus and attempts to create a way for his messages to reach a larger audience. These images strike the minds of the audience at an emotional level and also cancel out words. His meaningful design of a photograph of a live soldier with his or her obituary represented the condition of Iraq and was appreciated with the ‘Environmental Graphic Design Award’.
Starr uses his talents and profession to bring about a change in the society that is seen depleting in nature. Graphic designing gives an artistic way to create and draw in a style that will not just convince people with the beauty of it but also communicate the hidden message within it. Using this profession as an artistic source of presentation and as a strategy for creating an impact proves how pictures can speak a thousand words!
Akshara Palshetkar