Learning Graphic Design Through History

MODULE 2 - REFLECTIONS ON CHAPTERS 1 - 4 Meggs' History of Graphic Design (2016) first four chapters details how text and the alphabet has evolved from cave painting pictures to the creation of the alphabet to medieval bound books. Within these chapters was brief discussion of petroglyphs, which I have always had a fascination with.  Petroglyphs are rock carvings or pictographs that early humans used to communicate stories, myths, messages to each other, educate future generations, may have been utilized for religious reasons, etc. They were, however, not considered to be art for the sake of art. So, why am I so intrigued by petroglyphs?      I live in Petersburg, Alaska and on our very own local beach is a series of ancient petroglyphs carved by the local Tlingit tribe into massive boulders that have sat on that very beach for thousands of years. The future generations of these tribal members still live in our community today and many of the traditions that have been passed on th

T he purpose of this blog is to read, absorb, and reflect on the history of graphic design through the  Meggs' History of Graphic Design  book (Meggs and Purvis 2016). The purpose of Module 1 is to look at every picture in the book before actually reading the text and reflect.  Picture Credit:  https://draw-down.com/products/meggs-history-of-graphic-design-6th-edition My first honest impression when receiving this book in the mail was that it was massive and I was intimidated by the thought of reading the entire thing. But it also had a modern and dynamic cover which drew me in. I know, I know - don't judge a book by its cover. Well, upon opening this gargatuan beast, I discovered smooth, glossy pages of beautiful pictures ranging from:  prehistoric cave paintings,  early alphabet forms,  first and elaborate printing of texts,  detailed art pages within the pages of the book,  colorful posters of the early 1900's,  abstract and seemingly controversial decor of the 1920'