Editorial design as a communication tool

Abstract

This article presents a systematic review of editorial design as a communication tool in both print and digital media. The main objective was to analyze its applicability, identify the elements that enhance its communicative effectiveness, and examine its contributions to meaning construction and reading comprehension. The methodology followed a systematic mapping approach based on the guidelines proposed by Petersen et al. (2008), applying defined inclusion and exclusion criteria, searching databases such as Google Scholar and Notebooks, and analyzing ten studies published between 2018 and 2024. The results reveal a growing academic interest in editorial design, with a focus on formal components—typography, grid, color, visual hierarchy, and graphic narrative—which directly influence message legibility, coherence, and persuasion. Nevertheless, research gaps remain regarding interdisciplinary approaches and the lack of studies addressing the Latin American context. The study concludes that editorial design should be understood not merely as an aesthetic practice but as a strategic communicative system that mediates between message and reader, capable of building meaning, identity, and significant visual experiences.