LECTURE NOTES/ Spencer's

SPENCER’S

Graphic design history

History is selective, history is affective. Histories can be mined for new meaning.

Meggs History of Graphic design (1985)

The first time the words “History” and “Graphic Design” were used together.

Steven Heller – “I thought this Meggs fellow had actually made history”

An attempt to create a systematic graphic design history that did not depend on anecdotal reflection.

Invention of mark making:

Hittite cylinder seal – precursor to print image on side, image on base for stamping. 1650-1200 BC

Illuminated Manuscript decorated with gold/silver Light, religion, technology. AD 500-AD 1000

(They showed religious significance)

Creative innovation drives disciplines. Evolution of printing and type is technological and aesthetic history.

It was necessary to condense a considerable amount of mass communication history before getting to heart of what we call graphic design.

MOVEMENTS: Arts and Crafts, Art Nouveau, Vienna Secession, New Objectivity, Modernism, The new typography, International style.

Was not about production of posters, it was about condition about domestic environment. Integrating in your environment.

Strong means of changing society.

Note the Helvetica craze is technically a retro movement.

Gary Huswit, 2007 – “Helvetica is everywhere”

Avant Garde movements and their respective influences on American and European practices is given in-depth coverage.

Importance of AG in terms of change and innovation. The mid modern art and design aesthetics so popular in revivals today, are well recognized.

NEW GRAPHIC DESIGN

How does it attempt to be new?

The profession was established when the task of designing printed material was separated from the task of printing it. Old DIY context – the job printers

Graphics as a function of the western industrial world dictates the content of much of the book. The majority of the chapters are dedicated to the 20^th.

Attempted to convey a message of cultural improvement – novel form of exhibition in underground stations.

I found it very interesting as graphic design is my sphere. I had known plenty of new things as well as which can help me to improve writing essays or dissertation.