The evolution of graphic design in typography, symbols, colors and images brings us back to the revolution history, and the impact of those changes throughout the years. However, in order to have a full understanding how design works through interface and interaction, we need to take a look back into the history of design, along with the history of industrial revolution. The characteristic of these revolutions has changed social, economic and the environmental conditions with their own design. The Agricultural, Industrial and Postindustrial are revolutions that had their own impact on workers as well the economy.
The Agricultural Revolution economy started the moment people began to raise their own crops and domesticate animals to help out on the field by placing a harnessed on the animal while it pulled a plow. This made it easier for them to break up the soil verses to doing by hand. This change helped improve the efficiency of producing food and impacted the economy by bringing new jobs as agriculture began to grow.
Furthermore, the Industrial Revolution had many inventions that impacted the growth of typography and graphic design. It is unknown who invented the early printing, but it is said it occurred in China, where woodblock and printing was developed during the early 6th century. It is said that the process of this printing was done by applying ink onto a raised carved surface. This technique allowed them to create multiple copies of text and images faster and economical (Meggs, 2020).
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In addition, during the 1300s to 1400s when the basic form of press printing was developed, having images and letters craved into a block of wood and press onto paper, cloth, and other materials by using ink. Beautiful decorative borders, colored ornamental initials and printed elements were added to illustrated books by hand. (Lamelson, n.d.). Now, imagine how it would have been today if the printing press was never invented. None of the things we have today, such as newspaper, books, magazines, posters, flyers and mailers would be of existence. Thanks to the invention of this machinery, we are able to be more productive while allowing this to help decrease the costs of production. This also helped with the creation for new industry, bringing in new job opportunities such as book publishers, advertising agency, and art directors to work on the visual element of communication for magazines while making it more affordable for consumers (Meggs, 2020).
This brings us to the technological revolution along with the impact it has in our design world today. Graphic designers today are able to easily replicate and produce any typography or designs from previous revolution. By simply using programs such as Adobe, graphic designers are able to mimic those design techniques with less effort compared to how it was done in the past. These changes throughout the years has made it easy on graphic designers, when creating typography and design. The use of standard to industrial printers that can be used to print on any kind of paper, fabric and other surface materials by using ink, craving and laser allows the artist to produce more products in less time.
Overall, as graphic designers we are able to apply the techniques used on the creation of typography and design through the influence of past revolution. However, “digital technology is the dominant revolution of our time, and it is not only an industrial one. It will increase, along with the importance of interface and interaction design” (Muller, 2017).
References
- Lamelson. (n.d.). Movable Type Printing Press. Retrieved from Lemelson: https://lemelson.mit.edu/resources/johann-gutenberg
- Meggs, P. B. (2020, April 02). Graphic design. Retrieved from Encyclopedia Britannica: https://www.britannica.com/art/graphic-design
- Muller, B. (2017, January 27). Design in Four Revolutions. Retrieved from Medium: https://medium.com/@borism/design-in-four-revolutions-fb0f01a806d2
