When Did Modernism Start in Graphic Design?

Modernism in graphic design is an artistic movement that began in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It is characterized by a rejection of traditional forms and an embrace of new technologies and ideas. Modernism aimed to create an visual language that was universal, timeless, and accessible to all.

Modernism in graphic design began to emerge in the early 20th century with the advent of new printing technologies such as lithography and chromolithography. These new processes allowed for mass production of printed materials at a much lower cost than before.

This allowed for a wider range of people to access materials such as posters, advertisements, magazines, books, etc., which had previously been limited to the wealthy. As a result, modernist designers were able to experiment with new forms and layouts that were previously unavailable.

The Bauhaus school was particularly influential in developing modernist graphic design principles during this period. The Bauhaus sought to develop a “universal” visual language that could be used across different mediums and cultures.

This universal language was based on ideas such as simplicity, clarity, and order. They also sought to create graphics that were visually striking yet easily understood by anyone who saw them.

The International Typographic Style (also known as Swiss Style) emerged in the 1950s and was heavily influenced by the principles developed at the Bauhaus school. This style focused on using simple shapes, grids, typography, photography, and minimalism as its main elements. The International Typographic Style sought to create graphics that were clean, clear, rational, organized, and aesthetically pleasing while still conveying information effectively.

The mid-20th century also saw the emergence of other styles such as Pop Art and Op Art which employed bright colors, geometric shapes, bold lines, photographic images and other techniques to create visually stimulating images which could be interpreted differently depending on context or audience.

Finally Postmodernism emerged in the 1970s which challenged many of the concepts developed by modernists in favor of more diverse approaches such as deconstructionism or appropriation art. Postmodernists rejected strict formal rules or order preferring instead to explore multiple approaches or styles simultaneously creating works which could be seen as both subversive or playful yet still convey their message effectively.

Conclusion: Modernism in graphic design started with the emergence of new printing technologies in the early 20th century which enabled mass production of printed materials at a much lower cost than before allowing designers more freedom to experiment with form and layout than ever before. The Bauhaus school was particularly influential during this period laying down many of the principles which are still used today such as simplicity clarity order etc while later movements such as Pop Art challenged these concepts preferring instead more diverse approaches.