A History of Graphic Design (Hardcover)

by Philip Meggs (Author) "It is not known precisely when or where the biological species of conscious, thinking people, Homo sapiens, emerged..." (more)
Key Phrases: international typographic style, typographic book, pictorial modernism, New York, United States, William Morris (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
A significant attempt at a comprehensive history of graphic design...it will be an eye-opener not only for general readers, but for designers who have been unaware of their legacy. -- The New York Times

With this book, Meggs made it easier for designers to envision their work in terms of history. The final pages of each edition attempt to put young designers into historical context, perhaps before their influence can be accurately assessed. Although some may argue that it's an effort to control history rather than report it, this book makes for a lively debate. A History of Graphic Design, now in its third edition, stands as a monumental contribution to the field. -- Critique Magazine, Pamela Williams, Spring 1997

Product Description
Critical acclaim for previous editions of A History of Graphic Design

"I expect it to become a foundation and keystone of serious study . . . it is a fortress work." -Communication Arts

"[It] traces the role of the designer as a messenger of culture." -STA Journal

"Now . . . a hefty, yet concise, documentation of the entire field exists." -Print

"It is a noble and formidable undertaking." -he Artist's Magazine

"An excellent and invaluable work." -Library Journal

"This is a reference work that reads like a novel. It's comprehensive, authoritative, graphic, and exciting." -U&lc: The Journal of Typographics

"[This book] establishes graphic design as a profession. Bravo!" -Design Issues

"A significant attempt at a comprehensive history of graphic design . . . it will be an eye-opener not only for general readers, but for designers who have been unaware of their legacy." -The New York Times

"Mr. Meggs enthusiastically conveys these excitements to us, from the invention of photography and 'popular graphics of the Victorian era' through the Arts and Crafts movement, Art Nouveau, the Secession, the isms . . . to the Modern Movement. . . . More importantly, he shows us the joins as well as the parts."-rinting World

After a decade of research by the author, the first edition of A History of Graphic Design was heralded as a publishing landmark by the Association of American Publishers, who awarded it a coveted award for publishing excellence. Now, after fifteen years of development in graphic design, this expanded and updated Third Edition includes hundreds of full-color images and new material in many areas, including alphabets, Japanese and Dutch graphics, and the computer revolution which has impacted all aspects of contemporary design and communications. With its approximately 1,200 illustrations, lucid text, and interpretive captions, the book reveals a saga of creative innovators, breakthrough technologies, and important design innovations.

Graphic design is a vital component of each culture and period in human history, and in this account, an extraordinary panorama of people and events unfolds, including:
* The Invention of Writing and Alphabets
* Medieval Manuscript Books
* The Origins of Printing and Typography
* Renaissance Graphic Design
* The Arts and Crafts Movement
* Victorian and Art Nouveau Graphics
* Modern Art and Its Impact on Design
* Visual Identity and Conceptual Images
* Postmodern Design
* The Computer Graphics Revolution

A History of Graphic Design is recognized as a seminal work; this Third Edition surpasses in detail and breadth the content, design, and color reproduction of previous editions. It is required reading for professionals, students, and everyone who works with or loves the world of graphic design. This comprehensive reference tool is an invaluable visual survey that you will turn to again and again.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 528 pages
• Publisher: John Wiley & Sons; 3 edition (September 9, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471291986
• ISBN-13: 978-0471291985
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 8.9 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (46 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #201,549 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Must have reference book for graphic designers, March 20, 2001

By	SL (RI) - See all my reviews

In my opinion, this 3rd Edition "A History of GD" is the best reference book written about graphic design. This 500 plus pages book/bible is simply divided into 5 sections, 1) The Prologue to Graphic Design, 2) A Graphic Rennaissance, 3) The Industrial Revolution, 4)The Modernist Era, and 5) The Age of Information. The topics range from the invention of writing to, creation of new typogrphic styles to, the digital revolution and computer art. There are plenty of graphics and photos on every page to accompany the wonderfully written text. If you study art history or graphic design, I think this would be a great reference book to have. It will take some time to read the entire book. But this is like a text book, so, reading only part of the chapters would be quite informative as well. Once you are done, you will definitely appreciate graphic design/graphic designers.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a reference for every project, July 20, 1998

By	[e-mail] (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A History of Graphic Design (Hardcover)

I was introduced to this book early in my undergraduate studies of design but rediscovered it during my recently completed senior year. It became a reference for every project and a permanent fixture on my bedside table. I was required to read many different books on history but this was the only one that I read time and time again.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Most Comprehensive Graphic History text around!, August 3, 2005

By	Rachel Lieberman "Sangria" (New Jersey) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I bought this book for a class and am incredibly impressed. It covers the evolution of graphic communication from the earliest cave paintings to the web. This book has incredible pictures and describes different styles in an easy to understand format. It is thick, but is one of the best reference books for choosing style and historical content. I normally sell back my textbooks, but this one is staying in my library!