What can you do and what is the difference btwn...visual communications, graphic design & advertising

Question

I am going into my senior year in HS...and so i am starting to apply to universities, and i am really wondering which path to take, and what exactly the difference is between the three or like if they all cross paths, and are similar...and also if communications design is similar to visual communications. I am really interested in knowing what careers each one can do, and whether or not you can even have some of the same occupations, for one as the other. I really do NOT want any bogus answers about people who have no idea about what they are talking about, or are unsure, but I am looking more for answers of people maybe with these degrees and what they are doing, or friends you may have that you know do these kinds of things.

Answer 1

visual communications probably is what covers all spectrums of communication that can be VISUALLY experienced...like:

-television

-advertising (still and motion)

-public speaking

graphic design is the process of which one takes to advertise. one can be a graphic designer for a large company and design the company's logo, stationary, promotion  banners, etc. not all graphic designers have to work for corporate companies or anything. a graphic designer can create logos for apparel, designs and patterns for apparel, and even labels for products.

advertising is probably a sub category for graphic design and vice versa. however advertising can also fit under the major of public relations where one is a represenative of a company and advertises them verbally to clients, etc.

i am not giving you any bogus answers as i have been through teh same situation as you, searching for good schools with communication programs and trying to see what category of communications i want to do.

here's some adivce...

advertising would be for you if you are very competitive have an edge a creative mind.

graphic design would work if you are interested in art.

public relations and public speaking is good if you have a great memory and can be convincing.

other routes for communications degree could be public broadcasting and journalism which involve a lot of research and writing.

some schools: (in order of awesomeness (well, when i was applying))

New York University *journalism and buisness communication (international relations, another form of communication and buisness representative)

Boston University *public broadcasting public relations advertising EVERYTHING

Emerson College *perhaps one of THE BEST in all forms of visual communication on teh east coast. had a friend who went there.

Univeristy of Pennsylvania *buisness communication

Syracuse University *really big school really big program

Quinnipiac Univeristy *up and coming

Pepperdine University *nice campus good program.

best of luck to you!