Who Is the Father of American Graphic Design?

The Father of American Graphic Design is widely considered to be William Addison Dwiggins. Dwiggins was born in 1883 and is best known for his work in book design and typography. He was a prolific artist and designer who helped to revolutionize the way books were designed and printed.

Dwiggins began his career as a type designer in the late 19th century, working for the Mergenthaler Linotype Company. He created numerous typefaces, including Electra, Metro, and Caledonia, which were widely used for printing books and magazines. During this period, he also created many book designs which are still admired today.

In addition to his work as a type designer, Dwiggins was also an influential graphic designer who revolutionized the way books were designed and printed. His most famous works include the book cover designs he created for Alfred A. Knopf in 1925, which included The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald and The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway. He also designed several book jackets for publisher Doubleday & Co during this time period.

He was a major contributor to the development of modern graphic design theory with his 1928 essay titled “New Kind of Printing Calls for New Design” where he discussed how typeface design had become an art form in its own right and how it should be treated as such when designing books or any other kind of printed material. In addition to this essay, Dwiggins wrote several other important essays on graphic design that helped shape the field we know today.

Dwiggins continued to influence American graphic design throughout his life until passing away at age 81 in 1964. Many of his designs still remain popular today and are seen as classic examples of 20th century American graphic design. His influence can be seen everywhere from corporate branding to desktop publishing software like Adobe Illustrator or InDesign which make use of many of his lessons on typography and page layout that have become standard practice today.

Conclusion

William Addison Dwiggins is widely acknowledged as the Father of American Graphic Design due to his influence on modern design theory through essays such as “New Kind of Printing Calls for New Design” written in 1928, as well as his many iconic typography designs that are still popular today.