In 1922, William Addison Dwiggins invented the phrase “graphic designer.” Despite this, graphic design may be traced back to the Lascaux Caves and Trajan’s Column in Rome. The earliest known graphic art made by mankind is cave art. Archeologists later discovered images on the walls of ancient Egyptian temples and medieval navigation charts for maritime exploration and heraldry throughout the Middle Ages and Renaissance. Then, in 1436, the Gutenberg Press was invented, allowing for the first time in history for books to be mass-produced.
Until 1984, almost all designs were made by hand, until Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak revolutionized the industry by introducing the Apple Macintosh computer. The graphic design industry, alas, has entered the digital era. Graphic design has developed and grown through time, and it is now a concentrated and complicated profession with several areas and specialties. Let’s look at the many styles and movements in graphic design throughout history to better understand the field. Modernism began to gain traction in the mid-1850s and is most frequently defined by artists’ purposeful rejection of previous forms in favor of experimenting with materials and processes to create artwork that better represents modern society. Let’s take a look at the many art styles that have existed throughout history.
Constructivism
This art form was born in Russia and has since become a symbol of societal transformation. The art itself featured abstract images and large text, and it was frequently political. Vladimir Tatlin, an artist, established this art style as a rejection of autonomous art. Constructivism sprang from Tatlin’s desire to “build art.” Alexander Rodchenko, a Russian artist, sculptor, photographer, graphic designer, and one of the pioneers of Constructivism, is another well-known artist of this type. El Lissitzky was a prominent Russian artist, designer, photographer, typographer, polemicist, and architect who worked in this style.
Art Deco
As a reaction to the austerity of WWI and as a spin-off from Modernism, the Art Deco style of art became popular. As well, its name comes from the Exposition Internationale des Arts Decoratifs and Industriels Modernes in Paris, which was the inaugural exhibition of the style. This art genre is best defined as carefree and extravagant with geometric forms, symmetrical patterns, and vibrant and contrasting color usage. The goal of this style of painting was to produce a sleek elegance that represented riches and refinement. Two of the most well-known Art Deco painters are M. Cassandre, a Ukrainian-French painter, commercial poster artist, font designer, and Paul Colin, a French poster artist.
Advertisement Boom/Pop Art
Although not technically an art form, the advertising boom had a significant impact on modern graphic design. Pop art, a prominent type of art in the 1950s, is considered by some to be a component of the Advertising Boom. During this time, art honored everyday objects and depicted people in their daily lives. Pop art during the advertising boom is today one of the most identifiable forms of modern art and graphic design, possibly due to commercial imagery.
Pop Art has a comic-like vibe and employs bright colors, funny themes, and everyday things. Cipe Pineles, an Austrian-born Thus, American graphic designer and art director, was a well-known artist at the time. Especially, she was also the Art Directors Club’s first female member. Paul Rand was an American graphic designer and art director best known for designing corporate logos for IBM, UPS, and Enron. Saul Bass, an Academy Award-winning filmmaker and graphic designer, is most recognized for his innovative color and abstract patterns. And also, Andy Warhol, an American artist and leading figure in the Pop Art style, is another well-known pop artist. Roy Lichtenstein, an American pop artist and prominent figure in the movement, was also a trailblazer throughout the Pop Art era.
Swiss Style
The International Typographic Style or International Style is another name for Swiss-style. It began in Switzerland in the 1940s and 1950s and influenced much of graphic design development during the twentieth century, focusing on readability and simplicity. It continues to impact this area today. The Swiss-style is characterized by a strong emphasis on typography, a formula or grid, a preference for photographs over drawings, and the use of sans-serif typefaces for the most part. Roy Lichtenstein, an American pop artist and a key participant in the genre, was a pathfinder throughout the Pop Art era.
The Digital Era
Since the introduction of the first Macintosh computer, more individuals than ever before have had access to hundreds of graphic design tools, allowing them to experiment with various styles and formats and discover new trends in creative and commercial graphic design. Stefan S Sagmeister, a New York City-based graphic designer and typographer who co-founded the Sagmeister & Walsh design business and designed album covers for Lou Reed, the Rolling Stones, and Aerosmith, among others, is one of the industry’s great names. Paula Scher is a graphic designer, painter, and art educator from the United States. And also, she was the first female principal of Pentagram, the world’s most prominent independent design firm. Especially, Shepard Fairey is an illustrator, activist, and modern street artist from the United States. During the 2008 presidential race, he became well-known for his Barack Obama “Hope” poster. The OutWest typeface was designed by Ed Fella, an American graphic designer, artist, and educator.
Since its discovery in the ancient caverns of Lascaux, graphic design has gone a long way. It is the art and practice of presenting visual and written material to convey ideas and experiences. It is a method of communication that may incorporate any scale of pictures, text, and graphic shapes. It may be utilized for any purpose, whether educational, commercial, cultural, or political, and can be applied to a single postage stamp or to build a company’s identity. Graphic design, in its broadest sense, encompasses the whole history of art. The need for graphic design services has never been higher due to the industry’s wide and quick expansion.
