The language surrounding graphic designers has come into being in the twentieth century. there are several events that led up to graphic design that would be considered part of the history of graphic design itself. Graphic design has its roots in the same rich cultural history of all art. Art has been part of cultures since before the written word. The history of graphic design stems from these ancient beginnings.
Like all recreational and applied humanities, graphic design got its real starting with the discovery of the printing press. Previously in the history of graphic design, art and other creative works needed to be hand copied. The power to print copies of art and other creative works was a massive step in the direction of the graphic design that exists today.
Another enormous step in graphic design history was the development of photography, and later film making. These vital steps at the end of the nineteenth century were the stepping stones to making the graphic designs that we have today. This time also marks the start of the separation of creative art, or art for entertainment, from applied art, or art that was employed for a purpose like conveying a message, advertising, and other graphic design purposes.
The subsequent biggest step in graphic design history was the development of the PC, and more seriously, the technology wave that led on to a private PC in each home as we have today. Graphic design wouldn’t be as favored, nor would it be as effective, creative, and reproducible without the discovery of computers. the history of graphic design is closely tied with the history of PCs, PC software, PC imaging software, PC scanners, PC printers, and digital photography. The web and graphic design software are maybe the most significant of these technical advances that are a big role in the history of graphic design.
Without all these important technical advances, graphic design wouldn’t be what it is today. There are plenty of other critical landmarks in graphic design history. In 1919 the 1st union of art and industry was put into place. In 1970 mega PCs authorized for more advances in graphic design with firms like IBM.
The development of the micro processor, permitting for private office and home PCs, came in 1980 and was marketed with Apple PCs in 1984. Eventually , the now commonplace technology of web access in 1993 tops off the graphic design history which has lead to the graphic design industry we all know and recognize today. To find out more about the history of graphic design, you can search the web or your local library.