Graphic design is an ever-evolving field of creative expression that has been around for centuries. But where did the term “graphic design” come from?
The phrase “graphic design” was first used in 1922 by the British typographer and book designer William Addison Dwiggins. Dwiggins was a leading figure in the development of modern graphic design during the 1920s and 1930s. He coined the term to describe his work, which included typography, illustration, logo design, and layout.
Dwiggins believed that graphic design was an art form distinct from printing and text composition, which had been practiced since the 15th century. He argued that graphic design should be seen as a unique discipline with its own unique set of principles and techniques that could be used to create visual solutions to communication challenges.
Dwiggins’ idea of graphic design as a distinct art form quickly gained popularity and his term became widely accepted in professional circles. By the 1940s, it had become common for publications to refer to “graphic designers” rather than “commercial artists” or “illustrators” when referring to those who created logos, illustrations, advertisements, and other visual elements for print media.
In recent years, advances in digital technology have allowed graphic designers to work in new mediums such as website design and animation. These new mediums require different skills than traditional print media did but fall within the scope of what we now consider graphic design.
Graphic design is now a vast field encompassing many different disciplines including typography, illustration, web design, motion graphics, branding, packaging design and much more. The term has been embraced by both practitioners of the art form as well as those who study it academically. Graphic designers today use their skills to create visual solutions for communication challenges across all industries and mediums.
The term “graphic design” has come a long way since it was first coined over 90 years ago by William Addison Dwiggins. What began as a single man’s idea has become an entire industry with a wide range of applications in today’s world—from corporate branding to website development—and will continue to evolve with advances in technology. Where Did The Term Graphic Design Come From? It originated from William Addison Dwiggins’ desire to differentiate his work from traditional printing methods; he believed that graphic designs should be seen as its own discipline with specific principles and techniques which could be used for creating effective visual solutions for communication challenges across all industries and mediums – from corporate branding to website development – making it an ever-evolving field of creative expression for centuries on end!