Many researchers from different disciplines have explained their views and interpretations and written about visual literacy from their various perspectives. Visual literacy may be applied in almost all areas such as advertising, anatomy, art, biology, business presentations, communication, education, engineering, etc. (Pettersson, 2002a). Despite all their combined efforts during the past 40 years, visual literacy has not been able to attract enough interest from society and enough interest from those responsible for school curricula around the world. A number of researchers have practically rejected the whole concept of visual literacy. An important reason for this may be a general lack of focus. In the author's view, individuals need to consider combined verbal and visual messages, not only text and not only visuals, when they study communication and communication-related issues. This is where message design and its different sub-areas may play an important role for visual literacists. The concepts visual literacy and message design partly overlap one another. In many situations it is, however, not enough to study visuals only. Individuals need to consider and study combined messages, not only text and not only visuals, when they study communication and communication situations. (Contains 4 figures.)