history of graphic design presentation

The History of Graphic Design: From Cave Paintings to AI Art

Understanding the history of graphic design is crucial for designers as it provides a foundation and context for current design practices and trends. Get better at your craft by learning about design evolution!

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Graphic design is the art of visual communication. It's not just about making things pretty; it's about crafting messages that resonate, influencing perceptions, and guiding actions. 

From the moment we wake up and glance at our smartphones to the signs that direct us on the streets, graphic design quietly shapes our daily experiences.

But do you know how and where it all started? 

Let’s look at a concise history of graphic design.

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Why you should know about the history of graphic design?

Understanding the history of graphic design timeline provides insights into the evolution of design styles , techniques, and trends . But as a modern graphic designer, it can also help you:

  • Appreciate the foundations of the discipline and learn from past successes and failures.
  • Make informed decisions and create more meaningful and culturally relevant designs.
  • Inspire creativity and encourage innovative thinking.
  • Create designs that recognize and resonate with the societal and cultural aspects.
  • Avoid repeating mistakes and navigate current design challenges more effectively.

Now that you know why you should know about the history of graphic design, let’s dive into a concise history of graphic design.

‍ Prehistory of graphic design [38,000 BCE to 3000 BCE]

Here’s a fun fact: the term graphic design wasn’t invented until 1922 when typographer William A. Dwiggins used it in his essay “ New Kind of Printing Calls for New Design .”

But, for now, let’s jump back to the beginning of the history of graphic design timeline.

Around 38,000 BCE, our ancestors left us awe-inspiring cave paintings like those found in Lascaux, France. These ancient artworks weren't merely decorative; they were early attempts to communicate ideas and share stories. So, they can be considered the origin of graphic design.

history of graphic design presentation

Fast forward to 3300–3000 BCE, and we encounter the Sumerians and their remarkable invention of cuneiform writing . Through wedge-shaped symbols pressed into clay tablets, they communicated complex ideas and recorded historical events. 

This early form of writing laid the groundwork for future graphic systems, bridging the gap between imagery and language.

history of graphic design presentation

The medieval graphic design era

In medieval times, religious illuminated manuscripts were a fusion of text and imagery. One notable example is the Gospel books of Insular art , crafted in the monasteries of the British Isles. 

history of graphic design presentation

These manuscripts showcased intricate graphics influenced by the Animal style, often associated with the Northern European "barbarian" cultures. These designs included elaborate interlace patterns and geometric decorations , reflecting a rich visual tradition.

The birth of early modern graphic design: renaissance and industrial era

Enter Johannes Gutenberg and his game-changing invention: the printing press, in the 15th century. 

history of graphic design presentation

Suddenly, books weren't just for the elite; they were accessible to the masses. Gutenberg's Bible became the poster child for mass communication , demonstrating the power of printed words and images to shape minds and movements.

history of graphic design presentation

With the rise of printed media came the birth of visual branding. Logos and trademarks emerged, acting as visual signatures for businesses and products. Take Bass Brewery's red triangle , registered in 1876 as the world's first trademark. It wasn't just a symbol; it was a promise of quality and consistency.

history of graphic design presentation

The Industrial Revolution brought another innovation: chromolithography . This color printing technique paved the way for vibrant posters and advertisements, transforming city streets into kaleidoscopes of visual delight. 

Consider Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec's iconic Moulin Rouge posters , capturing the spirit of 19th century Parisian nightlife in vivid detail.

history of graphic design presentation

Graphic design in the early 20th century

The evolution of graphic design accelerated at the start of the 20th century with design movements like the Wiener Werkstätte in Vienna blurring the lines between art and industry. 

history of graphic design presentation

Led by visionaries like Gustav Klimt and Egon Schiele , the Werkstätte championed craftsmanship and aesthetic beauty in everyday objects. Their designs weren't just functional; they were expressions of cultural identity and social ideals.

history of graphic design presentation

Art Deco, corporate branding, and pop art of the mid-20th century

The Art Deco movement emerged in the early 20th century but reached its peak popularity in the 1930s. It was characterized by bold geometric shapes, vibrant colors, and luxurious details . The movement drew inspiration mainly from Cubism, Futurism, and the visual aesthetics of ancient cultures.

Then came Paul Rand , perhaps the most famous graphic designer in modern times. His logo designs , like the timeless IBM and ABC, are testaments to the power of simplicity. 

Rand believed a good design should speak for itself, communicating its message clearly and succinctly . His influence on mid-20th-century corporate identity design is immeasurable, shaping the visual identities of countless companies worldwide.

history of graphic design presentation

The Pop Art movement emerged in the mid-20th century and peaked in the 1960s, especially in the United States and the United Kingdom. It was characterized by designs influenced by popular culture and consumerism , drawing inspiration from advertising, comic books, celebrities, and everyday objects.

history of graphic design presentation

Pop artists often repeated and replicated images to emphasize the mass production and consumer culture of the time. Similarly, graphic designers used repeated patterns, motifs, and icons to convey messages and create memorable visual identities.

As businesses recognized the importance of design in advertising and branding , there was a growing demand for professional design services. This led to the emergence of popular corporate design agencies like Studio Dumbar, Wolff Olins, ArtVersion , and more. 

These agencies played a significant role in shaping the visual landscape by creating innovative and memorable designs, leveraging the principles of Pop Art and other contemporary art movements. 

Graphic design in the early 21st century

With the dawn of the digital age in the late 20th century that continued into the 21st century, graphic design underwent another transformation. Computer screens became our canvases, and software like Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator became our brushes.

history of graphic design presentation

Designs created in the digital age are not limited to printing media like book covers , posters, or magazine layouts; they have become an integral part of website design , mobile apps, social media ads , and more.

Ongoing evolution

Modern graphic design software like Canva, Krita, Affinity Photo, and more have made the graphic design process simpler, more dynamic, and more diverse. From sleek minimalism to bold, expressive typography , designers continue to push boundaries and challenge conventions. 

history of graphic design presentation

Social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok have become virtual galleries where design trends emerge and go viral quickly.

But graphic design isn't just about aesthetics; it's a universal language transcending borders and cultures. 

Whether it's a protest poster in Hong Kong or a brand identity in New York, design has the power to provoke, inspire, and unite . It's a tool for change, a catalyst for creativity, and a reflection of who we are as a society.

Future of graphic design

In 2024, we are witnessing one of the most important milestones in the history of graphic design: AI technology in graphic design .

Software like Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, CorelDRAW, Figma, and more keeps evolving, offering more powerful features, including AI-generated images, layouts, templates, etc. 

Collaboration and adaptation to new technologies will be key for designers, ensuring innovation and creativity in communicating visually .

Final thoughts

In conclusion, the history of graphic design is filled with innovation, creativity, and cultural evolution. 

From ancient cave paintings to digital masterpieces, it's a journey that reminds us of the enduring power of visual communication. 

As we move forward into the uncertain future with the adaptation of AI art, one thing remains clear: the story of graphic design is far from over .

history of graphic design presentation

Rohit is a novelist (not a NY Times Bestseller!), an avid reader, a passionate content writer, and does YouTube on the side as a hobby! When he is not researching and writing content, he loves to read books and watch movies, TV shows, and anime.

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A brief history of graphic design

Matt Ellis

  • May 25 2018
  • 12 min read
  • Design history & movements
  • Famous design & designers

Graphic design is so much a part of our modern world that it is hard to imagine living without it. And in some ways, we never have: visual communication is about as old as our opposable thumbs, though it’s been a long journey from stone tools to digital tablets. In short, the history of graphic design is a story that spans the entirety of human existence and it has the power to inspire and inform even modern graphic designers.

For one thing, knowing where, why and how this industry came about helps designers understand their place alongside history. In more practical terms, stylistic trends are cyclical, and studying the past can inspire some innovative ideas in the present. So join us as we trace the roots of design from pre-industrial history into the industry we know today. With any luck, you might just leave your own footprint along the way!

A 3D model of a caveman fishing character

  • Cave paintings
  • Sumerian written language
  • Chinese printing
  • Medieval calligraphy
  • European heraldry
  • Storefronts
  • Gutenberg press
  • First logos
  • First Print Advertisements
  • Chromolithography
  • The Wiener Werkstätte
  • A glimpse into the digital era
  • The history of graphic design is ongoing

Before the printing press: Prehistory to the Renaissance —

Graphic design proper really began after the invention of the printing press in 1440, but the roots of visual communication stretch all the way back to caveman times. In this section, we’ll run down the events of early history that paved the way for graphic design centuries before the world was ready for it.

Cave paintings ~38,000 BCE

It seems like humans have always had an inherent drive towards art, evidenced by the early cave paintings dating back to prehistoric times. Subjects vary from animals to hand imprints to events like hunting, and they’ve been found all over the world (Australia, Spain, Indonesia, France, Argentina, just to name a few). Historians debate the fine details as to who these were meant to communicate with (whether each other or their gods), but one thing that’s clear is, right from the start, humanity displayed a knack for communicating with visuals.

Cueva de las Manos cave paintings in Argentina

Sumerian written language – 3300 – 3000 BCE

Early Sumerian letter

As you read this article, interpreting all these tiny, abstract marks of the Latin Alphabet into words and sentences, it’s easy to forget that alphabets are a man-made invention. As far as we know, the Sumerians created one of the first written languages, most likely as a means of recording trader inventories to ensure couriers didn’t steal anything on deliveries.

These earliest languages were logographic—icons represented entire words instead of phonetic sounds. This suggests a natural ability of humans to use visual representation to communicate complex ideas, a cornerstone of modern graphic design. And in the last few millennia, not much has changed: designers still rely on icons like hamburger menus or magnifying glasses to represent entire words and concepts in limited space.

Advancements in Chinese printing 200 CE – 1040 CE

Yuan dynasty woodblock edition of a zaju play, Zhuye Zhou.

China holds most of the records for printing discoveries, including non-papyrus paper making, woodblock printing, and movable type—all of which occurred earlier than you might have guessed.

As far back as 200 CE, China used wood reliefs to print and stamp designs on silk clothes, and later paper. In 1040, Bi Sheng invented the world’s first movable type printing press out of porcelain, more than 400 years before Gutenburg brought a similar technology to Europe.

Medieval calligraphy – 700s

In the Middle Ages, typography started to take off as humanity started expanding its aesthetic horizons into the letters and words themselves. Because texts in this period were produced and replicated by hand, a little artistry made the books more valuable and set certain scholars apart from others. In Islamic cultures, typography was doubly important because figurative art was seen as sacrilegious , meaning typography was one of only a few permissible ways of artistic expression.

Nasta'liq calligraphy by Mir Emad Hassani

European heraldry – ~1100

Technically, the world’s first logo is the coat of arms, used as a symbol to represent family houses or territories. Scholars theorize the practice was popularized during the Crusades, where intermingling soldiers from different countries and houses incentivized a means to tell everyone apart, particularly on armor and battle flags.

Like logos, a house’s coat of arms aimed to represent the values, characteristics and styles of the people. Later, these emblems took on more practical purposes, such as wax seals to reflect authenticity.

Storefront signage – 1389

Old-fashioned bar sign

In the 14th century, beer and ale were viable if not preferable alternatives for drinking water at a time when most water sources were polluted. King Richard II of England made a law that ale houses must have signs out front so the public could find them easier.

Not only were these the first signage that actually represented companies rather than houses, but they’re also the origin of a beautiful tradition that survives to this day.

The birth of graphic design: Renaissance and Industrial Era —

With the advent of the printing press in Europe, humanity was able to recreate text, art and design on a massive scale, and for relatively cheap. The ancestors of modern companies—also on the rise—soon took notice of how such visuals could affect shopping behaviors and increase profits, thus modern graphic design was born.

Early wooden printing press, depicted in 1568.

Invention of the Gutenberg press – 1439

Johannes Gutenberg brought moveable type to Europe in 1439, introducing mass communication to Western culture and forever changing civilization. With the Gutenberg press, people no longer had to rely on lengthy scholarly reproductions of books, opening up literature (and literacy) to the masses and making it affordable. The Gutenberg press paved the way for more commercial uses of design, which ushered in the era of graphic design as we know it.

Printers’ marks from the 1400s

First logos – late 1400s

It was the printing industry that first used logos, although they were limited to just marks on their own documents. It wasn’t just a branding device, but also a means to show off your printing skill—how well your logo was printed reflected how well everything was printed.

One of the earliest known print advertisements

First print advertisements – 1620s

The printing press gave way to the “coranto,” the precursor to the newspaper. And in the early 1600s, these corantos featured the first printed advertisements.

(To be fair, written advertisements date back to ancient Egypt, but this is the first time we see images in mass-produced ads.)

Chromolithography – 1837

early chromolithography ad with uncle sam

Technological advancements continued to fuel the progression of graphic design, such as the ability to print in color, or chromolithography. While used primarily for recreating paintings for home decor, chromolithography also opened new doors for advertising.

An early Dr. Pepper chromolithograph ad

Brands were now able to use a lot of the familiar marketing tools we know today, such as characteristic color schemes and building emotional connections through slice-of-life scenes. Before, visuals were stilted by the tech of the time (see the ink blot coranto image in the previous section) and prioritized basic clarity instead of touching on complex emotions. But chromolithography enabled some degree of realism, allowing advertising to capitalize on attractive models, fashions of the day and artistic usage of colors.

Graphic design in the modern era —

Graphic design as we know it today really started developing in the modern era, roughly the late 1800s up until the end of World War II. While the 19th century was more about technological advancements and new capabilities, the modern era was about learning how to exploit these advancements for more artistic aims. With printing now a common tech and competition fueling innovation, artists and designers were pushed to explore new styles and techniques, which quickly trickled into advertising and branding.

The Wiener Werkstätte (first graphic design agency) – 1903

With more and more companies recognizing the benefit of graphic design, it was just a matter of time before the first graphic design agency emerged. That honor belongs to Austria’s Wiener Werkstätte, an organization who made contributions to design style and business alike.

Works from the Wiener Werkstätte

Meaning simply “Vienna workshop,” the Wiener Werkstätte was the first such organization of visual artists, including painters, architects, and early graphic designers. Organizationally, it set the precedent for all other collaborative agencies to follow.

Perhaps its greatest legacy was stylistic innovation, such as cubism. And as a group of professional artists working together, they held great influence over establishing design standards for upcoming generations of artists, particular those after World War I when cultural attitudes were changing worldwide. The work done at the Wiener Werkstätte set the stage for the popular Bauhaus and Art Deco styles that soon followed.

Staatliches Bauhaus founded – 1919

modernism advertising see America poster

Furthering what the Wiener Werkstätte started, the Staatliches Bauhaus, or just simply “ Bauhaus ,” first opened its doors in Weimar, Germany in 1919. Theirs was an ambitious goal: to create a  Gesamtkunstwerk , an artistic ideal that encompasses or synthesizes existing art forms into one perfect work. The interesting thing is they actually succeeded: Bauhaus was one of the central driving forces behind the popularization of the modernist style.

The term “graphic design” appears for the first time – 1922

William Addison Dwiggins

In his article “New Kind of Printing Calls for New Design” (printed in the Boston Evening Transcript , August 29, 1922), book designer William Addison Dwiggins first used the term “graphic design” to describe exactly what his role was in structuring and managing the visuals in book design. From day one, designers were struggling to explain to non-designers what, exactly, they did.

Paul Rand publishes Thoughts on Design – 1947

With one foot in modernism and the other in post-modernism, legendary designer Paul Rand helped lead graphic design into its current form. He posted his theories and ideologies in the seminal work Thoughts on Design , which largely shaped the future of the entire graphic design industry.

Paul Rand logos

His book candidly explains his design philosophies he used throughout the latter half of the twentieth century, namely a call for “functional-aesthetic perfection,” an ideal balance between a logo looking good and communicating its points effectively, seen in his popular logo designs for brands like Ford, Westinghouse, Yale, ABC, UPS, and IBM.

A glimpse into the digital era —

From the 1950s onward, the world began its slow approach to the digital era we’re currently enjoying. The mass-adoption of home computers is a technological advancement comparable to the invention of the printing press, ushering in a new age for mass communication and granting access to esoteric art styles and digital software for new methods of creating art.

MTV logos

Adobe Photoshop—first released in 1990—even on its own changed the face of graphic design. Photo manipulation created a whole new subcategory of graphic design, blending together elements of photography, illustration, and CGI (it would have made the Gesamtkunstwerk artists proud).

Simultaneously, the nature of branding also evolved to meet the changing times. We partially have MTV to thank for this—they brought a fresh new take on logo usage, particularly in constantly changing theirs while retaining recognizable characteristics.

perfect example of flat design

When the internet came into prominence around the turn of the century, designers took a page out of MTV’s book and adopted youthful and at times edgy designs to draw the younger generation into the world wide web. This can be seen in online trends like flat design, which incorporates bright colors and cartoonish figures.

old-fashioned graphic design trends

The history of graphic design is ongoing —

That pretty much brings us up to date with graphic design, but one area still remains a mystery: what is the future of graphic design?

The progression of visual communication from cave paintings to digital software can serve as great inspiration, but what fruit that bears is up to you, whether you’re the next generation of designer or the client whose brand might lend itself to a new leap in design thinking. Though today the process is hard work, tough feedback, countless late nights in front of a  glowing screen, the result might just bring about the Bauhaus or Thoughts on Design of tomorrow…

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The Graphic Design Timeline - Click to enlarge

The timeline includes the following graphic design periods...

  • Victorian Graphic Design Style: 1837 - 1901
  • Arts & Crafts Graphic Design Style:1880 - 1910
  • Art Nouveau Graphic Design Style: 1890 - 1920
  • Futurism Graphic Design Style: 1900 - 1930's
  • Art Deco Graphic Design Style: 1920 -1940's
  • Heroic Realism Graphic Design Style: 1900 - 1940's
  • Early Modern Graphic Design Style: 1910 - 1935
  • Late Modern Graphic Design Style: 1945 - 1960
  • American Kitsch Graphic Design Style: 1950's
  • Swiss/International Graphic Design Style: 1940's - 1980's
  • Psychedelic Graphic Design Style: 1960's
  • Post Modern Graphic Design Style: 1970's - 1980's
  • Grunge Graphic Design Style: 2000 - 2010's
  • Flat Graphic Design Style: 2010 - Present

Graphic Design History Timeline

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A History of Graphic Design

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A History of Graphic Design

The history of writing and printing

history of graphic design presentation

13-02 Excerpted from Meggs’ History of Graphic Design, Fourth Edition. Copyright 2005, All rights reserved. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

history of graphic design presentation

Chapter 4 Section 4 Egyptian Achievements

history of graphic design presentation

The Old Kingdom.

history of graphic design presentation

0101 IAT 102 Graphic Design General Info Break Brief intro to Graphic Design Prehistory of Visual Communication Intro: Lab Activity and Project.

history of graphic design presentation

SSWH1 The student will analyze the origins, structures, and interactions of complex societies in the ancient Eastern Mediterranean from 3500 BCE to 500.

history of graphic design presentation

This presentation draws heavily on Jared Diamond, Guns, Germs and Steel, London, Vintage: 1997 Chapter 12 ‘Blueprints and Borrowed Letters.

history of graphic design presentation

The birth of the alphabet- writing system of language.

history of graphic design presentation

The Big Idea The Egyptians made lasting achievements in writing, architecture, and art. Main Ideas  The Egyptians developed a writing system using hieroglyphics.

history of graphic design presentation

Ancient Egyptian Writing

history of graphic design presentation

 Warm-up 1. What is a Ziggurat? Explain using 3 details (DOK 2) 2. Was Mesopotamia Monotheistic or Polytheistic? (DOK 1) 3. Why did civilization begin.

history of graphic design presentation

1 CAVE WALLS TO ALPHABETS BIRTH OF GRAPHICS: Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2014, All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with.

history of graphic design presentation

Where Did the Bible Come From?

history of graphic design presentation

Mesopotamia  Growth of City-States: Sumer, Akkad, Uruk, Babylon  Religion and Government  A system of writing  Legends.

history of graphic design presentation

Comparative Analysis: *consider topics of Power and Society.

history of graphic design presentation

The Evolution of Writing BC scribes in Sumer created cuneiform – pressing wedge shaped marks into wet clay Writing began as pictographs – pictures.

history of graphic design presentation

Comparing Paleolithic and Neolithic Peoples

history of graphic design presentation

Egyptian Achievements. Egyptian Writing If you were reading a book and saw pictures of folded cloth, a leg, a star, a bird, and a man holding a stick,

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What is Graphic Design? (& Types, History & Examples)

What is Graphic Design? (& Types, History & Examples)

Written by: Chloe West

An illustration showcasing different elements of graphic design.

When you think of graphic design, what crosses your mind? It could be a logo, a digital marketing graphic, illustration, a magazine cover or something else entirely. And you know what? You would be right!

Graphic design comes in many different shapes and sizes. What they all have in common is that they’re designed to communicate visually, and are typically done on a computer or tablet.

We’ve put together this comprehensive guide to help you learn more about graphic design and how it’s morphed into what it is today.

Let’s get started.

Table of Contents

What is graphic design, why is graphic design important, a brief history of graphic design (infographic), 9 graphic design types you need to know.

Graphic design is the process of creating visual content that helps to communicate messages with an audience. The art of visual communication is essential, especially for brands looking to connect with their target audience, and graphic design is the perfect solution.

A collage of examples of graphic design.

Brands take advantage of graphic design in their logos, marketing materials, ads, website graphics, and even internal documents and email communications.

To further understand how graphic design works, you need to understand the different elements that make up a design. These graphic design elements include:

There are also a number of principles that graphic designers need to follow in order for their designs to be effective and grab attention. You may have heard these called Gestalt design principles .

Some of these principles include:

Putting together all of the different elements and principles can turn a design into a professional-looking graphic. 

While graphic designers by trade have often been trained on these principles, having a basic understanding can help anyone with little to no design skills create an eye-catching visual design.

Now that we’ve covered some graphic design basics, let’s dive into why graphic design is such an important skill.

history of graphic design presentation

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Graphic design is important for a lot of reasons. First, it’s the basis of every logo design you’ve ever seen. Second, think about all of the social media content and advertisements you see every day. Yep, all graphic design.

In addition, graphic design is a part of book cover design, magazine page layouts, product design, apparel design and more.

Here are a few statistics that help further our point of just how essential the graphic arts are.

An infographic sharing 6 essential graphic design statistics.

Graphic design isn’t just a new age thing. In fact, graphic design has been around for thousands of years — of course, it’s looked pretty different throughout the years.

We’ve put together an infographic detailing the history of graphic design, and how it’s turned into what we know today.

An infographic showcasing the history of graphic design.

You should have a pretty good grasp on the basis of graphic design and where it came from. Now let’s talk a little bit about the types of graphic design that you know today. Some of these, you may not have even realized are graphic design.

Let’s dig in.

Type #1: Brand Identity Design

The first type of graphic design is brand identity design. This alone is the most important type for you, as a business professional, to know.

While your company will likely use a variety of these different types, no company can succeed without a brand identity .

A brand identity consists of:

  • Color palette
  • Fonts/typography
  • Imagery style
  • Patterns/shapes
  • Brand guidelines

You can see an example of brand guidelines holding all of these brand identity elements below.

A brand guidelines template available to customize in Visme.

Graphic designers tend to specialize in just a couple of different types of design. Brand identity designers have to be well-versed in graphic design trends, what types of designs resonate with customers and more.

Type #2: Marketing & Advertising Design

The next type of graphic design we’re going to cover is marketing and advertising design. This specialization focuses on the graphics we see on social media, websites and advertisements, both online and offline.

All of the billboards you pass by while driving down the interstate, all of the brochures you see at the coffee shop counter and all of the business social media graphics you see while scrolling through your feeds are all part of marketing & advertising graphic design.

Here’s a sample template of a marketing graphic you might see teasing an online course.

A social media graphic template available to customize in Visme.

There is an endless number of marketing materials that can be created to promote a brand, and many designers specialize in this type of graphic design.

Type #3: User Interface Design

User interface (UI) design focuses more on designing actual websites, apps, software and other online programs. 

This specialization needs the designer to understand how to design a visually appealing program while also ensuring that it’s easy for the user to navigate and understand how to use.

Our UI team has worked hard to create an easy-to-use interface for Visme’s design tool so that both new and veteran users are able to get the most out of their experience.

A screenshot of Visme's user interface.

Type #4: Product Design

Product design involves creating the overall design of products and how they’re presented to the audience. This can be anything from t-shirt prints and bottles to the actual design of a watering can or coffee mug.

Take these products from Frank Body for example. The bottle shapes are all designed to fit each type of skin care, but a designer also had to create the designs that are on each of the bottles or packages.

A screenshot of product designs from Frank Body's website.

Product designers have to make sure that the products they create work well for the end user. Sometimes this involves reinventing the wheel on products that people already use and love while other times it can be helping to design something completely new.

Type #5: Publication Design

The next type of graphic design we’ll cover is publication design. Publication design encompasses the design of things like magazines, ebooks, white papers, reports, books, newsletters, brochures and more.

Publication designers must be able to create a visually appealing design that is still readable and ensures the information on each page flows well.

In this regard, it’s not all about the design. The actual words and content must come first, with the design only accentuating it.

Here’s an example of an easy-to-read and well-designed publication. The cover spotlights an illustration and headlines of what readers will find inside, while the inner pages do a great job of visualizing the content and calling out main points while still ensuring the copy is the star of the show.

An example of a great publication design.

To try your hand at publication design, you can customize this ebook template and share your own information with your audience in a visually appealing way.

An ebook template available to customize in Visme.

Type #6: Packaging Design

Another important type of graphic design is packaging. When you’re selling something that many other companies sell, you need to find some way to stand out — a lot of times your packaging can help you do just that.

Whether you appeal to a certain audience with minimalistic packaging designs or you get creative, having packaging that pops is key.

Take a look at this toilet paper roll packaging . Getting creative with it can make people want to choose your product over others, simply because it’s cute or it’s different.

An example of creative product packaging design.

Packaging designers are faced with the challenge of finding unique ways to present their products so consumers choose them over a competitor.

Type #7: Typeface Design

Think of all the fonts you see on a daily basis. Look at the fonts that are used just within this blog post. Someone had to design all of these.

Every single font, even the most basic ones like Arial and Times New Roman, were created by a typeface designer. 

Both fonts in this font pair below were also designed by someone who specializes in creating typefaces.

A font pair available in Visme.

In this day and age, we typically see typeface design used when brands want to create their own font. For example, Netflix’s logo is in their branded Netflix Sans font, and Samsung has their own SamsungOne font.

Type #8: Motion Graphic Design

Motion graphic or animation design is another type of design that you often see in videos and GIFs.

For example, take a look at this YouTube video where we unveiled our new brand mascot .

history of graphic design presentation

Designing animations or motion graphics requires special tools and the ability to create something that moves.

However, if you want to start small, you can use Visme’s video maker to create a motion video by customizing the template below.

Type #9: Illustration Design

The last type of graphic design we’re going to cover is illustrative design. 

This type of graphic design typically is done in professional programs like Adobe using a stylus and touchscreen to draw out the elements and turn them into a digital design. However, every designer has their own style and process.

You’ve seen this style a lot in our blog graphics. We incorporate illustrative design into many of our blog headers to help them stand out.

Illustration of a person designing an email.

Illustration is a popular design trend that likely won’t be going anywhere for awhile, especially given how unique and different illustrations can become.

Over to You

Ready to try your hand at graphic design? You don’t have to be a designer to create something great. With a template and an easy-to-use design tool like Visme , you can easily design beautiful visual content no matter what level of design skills you’ve mastered.

Design beautiful graphics you can be proud of with Visme.

history of graphic design presentation

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history of graphic design presentation

About the Author

Chloe West is the content marketing manager at Visme. Her experience in digital marketing includes everything from social media, blogging, email marketing to graphic design, strategy creation and implementation, and more. During her spare time, she enjoys exploring her home city of Charleston with her son.

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IMAGES

  1. History of Graphic Design Timeline Infographic :: Behance

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  2. History of Graphic Design: Infographic on Behance

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  3. History of Graphic Design Infographic

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  4. PPT

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  5. Graphic Design History Timeline on Behance

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  6. A Brief History of Graphic Design

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VIDEO

  1. GRAPHIC DESIGN PRESENTATION INTERVIEW( GDS )

  2. Graphic Design Meaning and History #graphicdesign

  3. History of Graphic Design

  4. Using InDesign Libraries

  5. DIPLOMA IN GRAPHIC DESIGN PRESENTATION FUTURE BUSINESS SCHOOL

  6. GRAPHIC DESIGN PRESENTATION INTERVIEW (GDS)

COMMENTS

  1. The History of Graphic Design by MAYA MCLOUGHLIN on Prezi

    The Coining of Graphic Design- 1922 Phototypesetting- 1946 The Use of Grids- 1917 Web Press- 1863 Offset Press-1903 Rotary Press- 1811 "Increasingly, over the course of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, advertising agencies, book publishers, and magazines hired art ... Simple presentation background ideas: elevate your visuals with ...

  2. The Evolution of Graphic Design: A Historical Perspective

    In this blog post, we will take a journey through the rich history of graphic design, exploring its key milestones and the influential movements that have defined its evolution. 1. The Birth of Visual Communication Graphic design has its roots in ancient civilizations where early humans used symbols and images to communicate and record information.

  3. "History of Graphic Design" PowerPoint and Guided Notes!

    Introducing our digital download "History of Graphic Design" PowerPoint and Guided Notes! Explore the fascinating world of graphic design with our comprehensive 29-slide PowerPoint presentation. Each slide offers a detailed explanation of the definition and three important facts about each era of graphic design, including the year it was in ...

  4. The History of Graphic Design

    The History of Graphic Design The Pre-History With the advent of written language, people were able to combine text and pictures to tell a story. This was the first use of graphic design dated as far back as the time of the Sumarians. An artisan would engrave characters and pictures onto a stone, usually shale or slate. The artisan always traveled with the tablet stones. A stone tablet that ...

  5. A Concise History of Graphic Design

    Learn how graphic design evolved from ancient symbols and manuscripts to modern digital media and AI art. Explore the key movements, styles, and trends that shaped graphic design history and influenced current practices.

  6. History of graphic design

    Learn about the origins and evolution of graphic design from ancient writing and calligraphy to modern communication and typography. Explore the examples of graphic design from different cultures and periods, such as playing cards, pictograms, and rebuses.

  7. A brief history of graphic design

    Learn how graphic design evolved from prehistoric cave paintings to the Renaissance and Industrial Era, and how it shaped the modern world. Discover the origins of logos, printing, typography, and more in this comprehensive guide.

  8. History of Graphic Design

    Brief History up to 20th Century During the 20th century, major strides in automation such as movable type and machinery reproductions impacted the availability of art for people in general. During the 20th century especially, the correlation to graphic design - communicating visually - become apparent. Several art movements in particular had an impact on the way graphic design and ...

  9. Graphic Design History Timeline

    Explore 14 graphic design styles from 1830 to the present day, including grunge graphic design from 2000 to 2010. Learn about the characteristics, examples and history of each style and get inspired for your projects.

  10. A History of Graphic Design

    Presentation on theme: "A History of Graphic Design"— Presentation transcript: 1 A History of Graphic Design Excerpted from Meggs' History of Graphic Design, Fourth Edition.

  11. What is Graphic Design? (& Types, History & Examples)

    Graphic design is the process of creating visual content that helps to communicate messages with an audience. Learn about the history, importance and types of graphic design, and see examples of logos, marketing, UI, product and publication design.

  12. History of Graphic Design

    History of Graphic Design - A free PowerPoint PPT presentation (displayed as an HTML5 slide show) on PowerShow.com - id: 209e5a-ZDc1Z. Toggle navigation. Help; Preferences; ... The PowerPoint PPT presentation: "History of Graphic Design" is the property of its rightful owner.

  13. PDF ART-106 History of Graphic Design

    The History of Graphic Design will be taught mainly through lectures prepared wit h projected images in presentation software. Students will use the textbook, Meggs' History of Graphic Design, research at museums, outside lectures, the library and/or internet resources in order to create presentations. Course Texts and/or Other Study Materials