We started off by looking at Meggs' History of Graphic Design published in 1985. This was the first time the words 'History' and 'Graphic Design' had been used together. Every history that follows on from this is like a footnote to this history. The work was continued by Alston Purvis in 2002 after Meggs died. Work referred to as "ambitiously encompassing" but also limiting.
Covered next was sort of a timeline of graphic design, mentioned first was Lascaux cave paintings from around 15000 - 10000 BC. Then mark making, painting and writing invention. We also looked at the Hittite cylinder seal - a precursor to print and a Greek invention from around 1650 - 1200 BC. After this came the illuminated manuscript in AD 500 - AD 1000.
We also looked at the following:
- Evolution of printing and type
- Aesthetic and technical aspects linked also a social element
- Reason for being -> commercial
- Started in mid 19th century and progressed to different styles
- Arts and crafts, Art Nouveau, Vienna Secession, New Objectivity, Modernism, New Typography, International style, William Morris
- Peter Behrens - New Objectivity 1901, start of modern form
- Jan Tschichold - New typography
- International style -> Armin Hoffman
Also we looked at how the Helvetica 'craze' is technically a retro movement and how in Gary Huswit's 2007 film 'Helvetica' when he states that the font is everywhere to think about that and think whether it actually is and to consider that by him saying it he actually creates the movement.
Meggs' history is limited because ....
When Meggs entered the 80s and 90s, the dawn of the digital age, he ran afoul of the new generation of anti-modernists that had embraced the expressive and connective potential of new techniques. It is a difficult history to manage.
Early editions of cover of the book are full of visual historical cliche - the modern versions being better:
Following on from Meggs' history we looked at Stephen Eskilson - Graphic Design: A New History which was published a few decades after Meggs.
How did it attempt to be new?
The profession of graphic design was established when the task of designing printed material was separated from the task of printing it. Graphics as a function of the western industrial world.
* Stresses social context -> attempted to convey a message of cultural 'improvement' - novel form of exhibition.
* Covers period that Meggs left off - impact of new technology
* Idea of 'citizen designer'
Criticism of Eskilson:
by Alice Twemlow and Lorraine Wild - "There is a lack of interest in anything that graphic designers write"
Beatrice Warde - The Crystal Goblet ,1930, - modernist book
Malcolm McCullough -> 'digital craft' as a blend of skill and intellect accompanied by by a blend work and play -> Marian Bantjes
