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History of Graphic Design

By wardlydi_1
  • 38,000 BCE

    Cave Paintings

    Cave Paintings
    At the beginning of life the cavemen would use paintings in cave walls to communicate. Though this isn't what we would usually consider the graphic design we know today, it helped lead us there.
  • 3300 BCE

    Sumerian Written Language

    Sumerian Written Language
    The alphabet is one of the greatest graphic design innovations to be created. The Sumerians invented the first alphabet, using pictures to represent the certain words rather than letters. These early languages are called Logo-graphic, because of their use of pictures.
  • 200

    Chinese Printing: 200 CE~1040 CE

    Chinese Printing: 200 CE~1040 CE
    The people of China discovered various different versions of printing, including papyrus paper making, woodblock painting, and movable type.
  • 1389

    Storefront Signage

    Storefront Signage
    In the 14th century King Richard II made a decree requiring that anyone one who chose to sell ale must have signage posted outside the business so it would be easier to find. These were the first 'logos' to represent something other than coat of arms used for households.
  • 1439

    The Gutenberg Press

    The Gutenberg Press
    Movable type printing was introduced to England allowing for mass production of print, enabling faster and more efficient communication. This invention also helped the education of the people improve immensely and religion was booming at this time due to greater access of religious works.

  • The First Print Advertisements

    The First Print Advertisements
    The 'corantos' were this time frame's newspaper, and was where these first advertisements were located

  • The First Graphic Design Agency

    The First Graphic Design Agency
    The Wiener Werkstatte was stationed in Austria and was the first organization with a variety of artists and designers.

  • "Thoughts on Design" is Published

    "Thoughts on Design" is Published
    Paul Rand's book on his theories and ideologies of design, helped shaped design into what we know today and paved the way for designers.

  • Graphic Design Continues to Evolve~Present day

    Graphic Design Continues to Evolve~Present day
    In 1990 the first version of Adobe Photoshop was released and graphic design slowly began to transfer to the world of internet. In present-day more and more platforms continue to be developed and Graphic design constantly grows and develops.