Graphic design is the art of communicating visually. It combines text, images, and other elements to create a message or convey an idea. Graphic design has been around since the invention of writing, but the first professional graphic designers emerged in the late 19th century as commercial printing began to gain popularity.
The Industrial Revolution saw an influx of new technologies such as lithography and other printing processes. This allowed for mass production of printed products such as newspapers, books and magazines. With this new technology came a need for skilled designers to create eye-catching visuals that would appeal to readers.
The first professional graphic designer was William Morris, who founded the Kelmscott Press in 1891. His designs were based on traditional typography styles of the period and focused on creating beautiful printed materials that were aesthetically pleasing. He was one of the first designers to use color in his work and he helped establish modern graphic design principles such as contrast, balance, proportion, texture, and hierarchy.
In 1907, Jan Tschichold published his book Die neue Typografie which set out a set of principles for modern graphic design including grid-based layouts with consistent spacing and margins; asymmetrical compositions; bold colors; sans-serif typefaces; and geometric shapes that focus on readability rather than decoration.
This was followed by the Bauhaus Movement which embraced a minimalist approach to design using basic elements such as circles, squares and lines while avoiding unnecessary ornamentation. The movement’s influence can still be seen today in many modern designs which are based on simple shapes and colors.
Modern graphic design is constantly evolving with new technologies being developed all the time such as 3D printing, augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), artificial intelligence (AI) and more. These technologies are allowing designers to create more dynamic visuals that are interactive and engaging for users.
Conclusion: While graphic design has been around since ancient times, it wasn’t until William Morris set up his Kelmscott Press in 1891 that we can say professional graphic design began in earnest. Since then we have seen many movements from Art Deco to Bauhaus shape our understanding of what modern graphic design is today – an ever-evolving field which uses technology to create engaging visuals for users all over the world.