Past vs Modern Graphic Design

Graphic design is a vast field and is about creatives designing visual content in the form of images, symbols, or even words to communicate a message. On this page, find out how graphic design has evolved.

Prehistory to the Renaissance

While the history of graphic design is traced back to the invention of the first printing press in 1439, the art goes back to the era of cave paintings sometime in 38,000 BC. Archaeologists are continuing to discover early cave paintings, for example, Lascaux, that depicts prehistoric life. Other early graphic design forms include the Sumerian written language, Chinese printing, medieval calligraphy, and European heraldry. These are the earliest forms of graphic design.

Renaissance and the Industrial Era

The invention of the Gutenberg press in 1439 was the birth of modern graphic design. With the printing machine, humanity was now able to recreate graphic designs on a massive scale. Modern companies also realized that graphic design could be leveraged to shape shopping behaviors. Since then, graphic design has spurred the creation of logos, print advertisements, and chromolithography.

Graphic Design in the Modern Era

Modern graphic design started in the late 1800s. In the modern era, the emphasis has been on exploiting ways through which technological advancements can be deployed to realize more artistic aims. Among the technological advances today are the development of graphic design software such as Photoshop, Adobe, and other software that blends in AI. Technologies such as 3D printing, on the other hand, are changing the entire game. Graphic designers are needed in almost every field of business these days. They help create online advertisements, online games, and more. If you are thinking about joining the field of graphic design, this is the best time to do so.