Setting out to look at the entire history of graphic design seems at best an act of optimism and at worst sheer folly. Even the concise published histories run to at least 200 pages. However, undeterred, I did at least want to get some sense of the field and see how others have defined it.
I found a number of helpful infographics, particularly the one from James Cain on the history of visual communications. This was useful in terms of the starting point being prehistoric picture writing, which reinforced for me the depth of our interaction with visuals. Neuroscience suggests that at least 20% of our brain is dedicated to vision. I’m not sure I’m up to producing my own timeline yet but maybe later in the course.
Rather than recount any particular chronology, which feels a bit overwhelming at this point, I have tried to look for themes and patterns.
- Links between art movements and developments in graphic design: it seems to me there has been a constant interplay between art and graphic design. Interestingly, the art nouveau posters of Mucha, themselves became regarded as art over time rather than advertising billboards. Modernism, post-modernism, constructivism, pop art to name a few have influenced the designers of their day.
- The impact of war and propaganda on design: wars appear to have had a significant impact on the nature, purpose and sheer quantity of graphic design at different points in history.
The First World War established the importance of visual design. (Hollis, 2001: 32)
By the outbreak of the Second World War graphic design had become an established element of the political landscape and an essential component in delivering messages to populations.
- Developments within particular national boundaries which then spread further afield. A number of countries have been credited with specific developments:
- Russia and constructivism
- Italy and Futurism, and the Milanese style
- The Netherlands and de Stijl
- Switzerland and the ‘Swiss style’
- France and the Moderne, and so on…
- Technological development and its impact on graphic design: Technology has both enabled and influenced the history of graphic design. This includes design technology and wider technological developments that have supported graphic design solutions such as the global mail system, lithography, the typewriter, the photocopier, photography, digital technology. I’m really looking forward to Graphic Means being released as it looks like it will give insights into some of these technologies!
Another theme that has emerged is that the key figures mentioned throughout the histories appear to be men, which raises for me the question around the gendered nature of what they produce. I know it is a bit of a rabbit hole to fall down but it does highlight questions about the nature of visual communications and whether gender affects outcome.
I know this is just the tip of the iceberg but it gives me some insight into different approaches and influences on the field of graphic design. It also starts to bring out some themes I might look at in more depth. There is obviously still much to explore!
References:
Hollis, R. (2001). Graphic Design: A concise history. London: Thames & Hudson Ltd.
