Graphic communication is communication using graphic and visual elements. These elements include symbols such as glyphs and icons, images such as drawings and photographs, typography and fonts, and can include the passive contributions of substrate, colour, and surroundings. It is the process of creating, producing, and distributing material incorporating words and images to convey data, concepts, and emotions.

The field of graphics communications encompasses all phases of the graphic communications processes from origination of the idea (design, layout, and typography) through reproduction, finishing, and distribution of two- or three-dimensional products or electronic transmission. Although graphic communication is similar to graphic design in some aspects, there are significant differences between the two. Graphic communication focuses more on the client impact through communication via visuals of different formats. Graphic design focuses more on creating art and designing graphics that will be used by companies.

Graphic Communication focuses on the technical aspects of producing and distributing items of visual communication. This includes technical aspects associated with the production of tangible items such as books, magazines, and packaging, as well as digital items such as e-newsletters, interactive apps, websites, video, and virtual reality applications.

Graphic communication involves the use of visual material to relate ideas such as drawings, photographs, slides, and sketches. The drawings of plans and refinements, and a rough map sketched to show the way, could be considered graphical communication.

Graphic Design focuses on developing concepts and creating visuals. This includes instruction regarding elements and principles of design, typography, image editing, web and video production, etc.

Any medium that uses a graphics to aid in conveying a message, instruction, or an idea is involved in graphical communication. One of the most widely used forms of graphical communication is the drawing.

In the prehistoric period, communication was done visually and aurally and involved touching, either delicately or forcefully, as well as movements and gestures. The earliest graphics known to anthropologists studying prehistoric periods are cave paintings and markings on boulders, bone, ivory, and antlers, which were created during the Upper Paleolithic period from 40,000 to 10,000 B.C. or earlier. Many of these played a major role in geometry. They used graphics to represent their mathematical theories, such as the Circle Theorem and the Pythagorean theorem.

The development of paper was a major step in the evolution of graphic communication as it is known today. The earlier forms of paper can be dated back to China. In these times, people wrote on bamboo and wooden strips with bamboo pencils. Eventually, this developed into the Egyptians making paper from papyrus. The process of making paper was derived from Ancient China and was later discovered by Europe. Once discovered, the process of paper making was refined to modern paper making. It involves a long process of fiber breakdown, pulping, and adding certain substances to improve the quality, strength, color, and brightness of paper.