Certain visual images scream their message to us loud and clear: a stop sign, a skull and cross-bones, a handicapped-parking sticker. The ability to take ideas and information and allow visuals that allow us to "read" them is perhaps the most basic and difficult skill of the graphic designer. This text argues that this way of seeing and creating is one that is part innate and part learned. Through visual images and descriptions, the book explains the theory behind this type of visual translation and walks the reader through examples of graphics ranging from signs and logos to advertising, packaging and events publicity. It explains how each image was conceived and why it succeeds.