Graphic design is all around us no more now in modern times than it was 100 years ago. When I ask myself what first comes to mind when I think of graphic design, I automatically think of photography and photo manipulation as well as advertisements. When asking others, the same question, the answers varied from company logos, web design, app design, and other print out items such as magazines and advertisements. I asked my friend what comes into mind when he hears the term graphic design he had said “logos”, after discussing it more with him, my friend brought up his family crest which he says is over 300 years old. I believe one could say that graphic design can go back to the era of cavemen or the hieroglyphs in ancient times where early people displayed symbols and stories on stone and cave walls. The journey from stone, to cell phones has spanned across centuries. Every advancement has contributed to what we know and think of today when we hear the term Graphic Design.
Design is about expressing emotions and feelings just as much as it is about creating a stunning, unique image, scene or logo. This can be achieved through many manipulatable elements such as color, symbols with direct imagery, subjective imagery, naturalistic depictions, abstract forms, textures, and ways of creating an image. All elements present in a design have been developing and expressing different motives since the beginning of design history.
The first designs could be described more as symbols and pictorial forms. This is also known as the first form of written communication between people. Over time, language developed and became more complex, eventually leading to the development of alphabets and languages. The development of a more sophisticated language made room for expression through words. This also created a demand for more text as people could read and write. Different type and text were developed to be used in different settings to express its use. Some texts were used in more formal scenarios such as handwritten elaborated writing in religious texts., others were used for informal uses such as taking notes. The use of color in text was first used in the same way. Elaborate handwritten scripts and texts were used to express different uses and status.
One of the first major advancement in graphic design was the invention of the printing press in the 1400s. The printing press lead to the mass production of books, art and other media. This made many of these items more reachable to the public. The printing press made graphic design an industry for commercial use. Coranto the predecessor to the newspaper featured the first advertisements using graphic design. This paved the way to making graphic design a multibillion-dollar industry it is seen as today.
Moving forward, another major advancement in graphic design was the invention of lithography by Alois Senefelder. Lithography is a method of printing that involves inking your design into a harden surface and transferring it to a sheet of paper. Chromolithography gave artists the ability to print in color.
Another major influence on graphic design and its history is the Bauhaus movement that started in 1919. One could say the Bauhaus contributed more to our modern graphic design industry than many other influences. The Bauhaus was a German design school with a goal was to make design a part of the product. The Bauhaus set out to create items that could be used with a purpose but maintain quality and have good design. With a combination of art and industry the school was a giant success, although it was short lived.
The development of language and texts combined with the development of the printing press as well as other printing processes such as lithography and screen printing all played a major role in our modern design world. Design should be somewhat universal to anyone despite who is viewing it. I believe the history of graphic design is important to know as a designer as it shows us that they have worked to make it somewhat universal already. Graphic designers and inventors from the past have worked to bring design to the masses, making room for more universal content, making our modern world possible. I believe knowing of the steps it took to get us to where we are as modern graphic designers, creates a deeper appreciation for design as an artist. Appreciation for your own work as well as for those of others before us also can make for a better designer.
The subjects present in my work as an artist focus on breaking down the preconceived gaps between communities of cultures, subcultures and generations. I like to think my eye for design and philosophy for design are similar, focusing on multiple perspectives of individuals, their backgrounds, status’s, believes, abilities, interests, and the ability for them to come together through common interest and grounds. Or in design, being able to get the general idea of what the design is expressing through its visual presentation and expression within the design.
I believe the foundation of a strong design comes from appealability and being universal. A good design should make sense to whomever is viewing it. Design should be bold and exciting when needing to express something bold and exciting. For example, advertising for an amusement park. As it should be welcoming and calm when advertising for something that should come off as being welcoming and calm. For example, at a nursing home. I believe design should give you an idea of what you are going to be experiencing and seeing before you see it. I believe a designer has the ability and resources to predict how different designs will come off to individuals based on their own experiences with graphic design as well as based on the movements and history that influenced graphic design throughout the ages.
Works Cited
Dhillon, Kim. “Graphic Design: History in the Making: Organized by Sara De Bondt and Catherine De Smet St Bride Library, London.” West 86th: A Journal of Decorative Arts, Design History, and Material Culture, vol. 19, no. 1, 2012, pp. 169–171. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/10.1086/665695. Accessed 10 May 2020.
Triggs, Teal. “Designing Graphic Design History.” Journal of Design History, vol. 22, no. 4, 2009, pp. 325–340. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/25653135. Accessed 10 May 2020.
“Who Cares about Graphic Design History?” Eye (0960779X), vol. 17, no. 68, Summer 2008, pg.58-71.
EBSCOhost,search.ebscohost.com/login.aspxdirect=true&db=asu&AN=505327476&site=ehost-live&scope=site.
Drucker, Johanna, and Emily McVarish. Graphic Design History: a Critical Guide. Pearson, 2013. May 10, 2020
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