Graphic Design History

For many people, the history of graphic design does not seem like something very complicated; it is overall basic and ultimately unimportant to know. Such a sentiment could not be more incorrect. As a designer, knowing how the industry has evolved and why certain styles were popular when they were is crucial to conveying a message to an audience. In his video, A Brief History of Graphic Design, Ben G. Kaiser states that “In order to make sure that you use the styles, the tools, and techniques accurately, you have to understand where they came from. You have to understand what the person who was initially using them at their creation was trying to communicate.” He explains that if a style from history is used incorrectly, it may convey a different if not completely wrong message. Knowing the history of graphic design allows a designer to learn from the mistakes made by the people before them, as well as benefit from the inspiration of notable works.

"Graphic design is so much a part of our modern world that it is hard to imagine living without it." -Matt Ellis

Graphic design history can be traced back to as early as around 38,000 B.C. Cave paintings are the first known form of human communication. They portray stories of the daily lives of people living during the era such as hunting and gathering. The simple designs clearly define what the image is supposed to show. Throughout the next few thousand years, designs slowly evolve with different cultures. The additions of written language and pictographs allowed early artists to make their work even more understandable. Other early advancements, such as the invention of paper, allowed for graphic design to be more readily available. Until this point, the development of graphic design had been a slow process. However, an invention in 1439 changed the speed of the industry’s development.

The Gutenberg Printing Press was an invention that allowed for type to be reproduced and reprinted with ease. It brought mass communication to Europe and increased the literacy rate astronomically. As Matt Ellis mentions in his article, A brief history of graphic design, “The Gutenberg press paved the way for more commercial uses of design, which ushered in the era of graphic design as we know it.” Thanks to the printing press, graphic design was now able to be spread to the masses, appealing to functional purposes of it such as advertisements.

After the printing press, graphic design continued to evolve with regulations being developed for type and the birth of hierarchy. The industrial revolution marked a new era and started the transition to what the industry is known to be today. As sharing became easier, graphic design became more important. With time, graphic design would go through many different trends. The 150 Years of Graphic Design Evolution timeline shows multiple examples of this, including Art Nouveau in the 1880s, Futurism in the 1900s, Art Deco in the 1910s, and so many more. Styles would be developed based on cultural influence, political events, and the styles that came before. Everything in the past had led up to graphic design as it is known today in the digital era. Adobe released Illustrator in 1987 and Photoshop in 1990. These computer programs led to a shift from creating physically to creating digitally. Ellis describes that “Photo manipulation created a whole new subcategory of graphic design, blending together elements of photography, illustration, and CGI.” Adobe single-handedly sent the graphic design industry into the modern era.

Graphic designers must have a grasp of the subject’s history to effectively create pieces that utilize particular styles and illustrate their message. It is interesting to see how the industry developed over time, and how certain advancements in technology made it increasingly necessary to the modern world. Graphic design’s long history allows designers to find inspiration and learn from the works of the past.