Martyn Woodward,
Transtechnology Research,

Room B321 Portland Square,
University of Plymouth,
Drake Circus,
Plymouth
PL4 8AA

martyn.woodward@plymouth.ac.uk

Martyn Woodward is a visual communications designer who has been researching the limits/ limitations of visual communication since 2004. He began his Ph.D in October 2008 at the University of Plymouth with a research focus on developing new strategies for Visual Communication which are analogous with the emerging research into the Embodied human condition. Previous to this Martyn studied at the University of Wales in Newport, Obtaining a Bachelor’s Degree in Graphic Design / Visual Communication in 2005 and his Master’s in 2007.

Sensual Communication: Towards an embodied model of Visual Communication

This research discusses the ways in which Visual Communication practices within Western cultures are fundamentally restricted by a limited vision of the capabilities of the embodied sensory experience. Through the early adoption of digital Audio Visual methods of communication the Western consciousness has shifted to be Audio Visually dominant and thus privileges Audio and Visual information. It argues that Westerners may not be utilising the fullest potential of their embodied sensual experience and therefore a significant disengagement with the whole of the sensory range within Western experience has been enforced.

The research therefore posits that the current model of Western thought, which in turn informs current Western Visual Communication, is fundamentally limited in scope, through being based upon this significantly reduced level of perception. This provides the situation whereby a significant amount of sensory information – such as our sense of touch, taste and smell Рhas become redundant from current Visual Communication practice and throws into question the very communication processes it relies heavily on.

The project hypothesises that Visual Communication practitioners could explore the potential of gaining an understanding of this lost sensual information and inform an alternative to typical Visual Communication practice, his Doctoral research focuses on forming an understanding of the link between certain sensory/`qualine` experiences and the `affordance` of objects/concepts and ultimately language and meaning itself. With the intention of providing a theoretical basis with which to develop a model of embodied ‘Sensual Communication’ for application alongside current Visual Communication practices, to be explored and applied through new forms of design practice. As such, the research intends to bring significant new knowledge to traditional methods of Visual Communication and the rapidly emerging field of embodiment studies.