Caricature is an effective illustration tool that can be used by graphic artists as well as fashion designers in the design of visual communication products such as magazines, posters, billboards, etc.
There are basically five types of cartoons. These are Gag, Comics, Cartoons, Editorials and Illustrative. Each of the types has its distinct uses in the field of visual communication.

i) Joke Cartoons

‘Gag’ literally means a ‘joke’. Prank cartoons are usually single-panel cartoons used to create fun about people in general. They create humor by using exaggeration. They are used as a means of entertainment. They are sometimes used to highlight and mock human flaws or mistakes. Cartoons may be accompanied by a single sentence caption which may be the spoken words of a character.

ii) Comic strip cartoons

This type of cartoon appears as regular features with well-known or established characters in newspapers. They are portrayed in series to illustrate or tell a story. Each strip includes a series of panels with the words of the characters enclosed in a balloon. They are published together on one or two pages.

iii) Cartoons

This is a short, computer-drawn cartoon made to look as if it were drawn by hand. They are made in series to create the illusion of movement and action. They are used for cinematography and are produced on audio and video screens. To create animation, each successive drawing in a panel is slightly different from the first before it to represent the notion of movement.

iv) Editorial cartoons

This type of cartoon is made for publication in newspapers. They appear on the editorial page as unique drawings used to shed more light on a newspaper’s editorial comment. They can appear with or without subtitles. Many editorial cartoons called caricatures make fun of famous people like politicians, musicians, etc. A caricature is an animated drawing of someone who humorously exaggerates their appearance or behavior to create amusement.

They can also support the main editorial of the day or they can cover some other events in the news of the day. The cartoon below illustrates or supports an editorial about female genital mutilation.

v) Illustrative vignettes

Illustrative cartoons portray specific ideas in a direct and simple way. They help explain stories, teaching material or announcements. They explain more the accompanying text. Books used in schools often have illustrative cartoons that help explain the topic or content. The following cartoon is an illustrative cartoon advertising a product.