Graphic design is a creative process and systematic plan of utilizing images, symbols or even words. It is visual communication, artistic expression of concepts and ideas using various graphic elements and tools. It is a combination of various elements like lines, shapes, color, type, texture etc.
History of Graphic Design
The evolution of graphic design as a practice and profession has been dependent on technological innovations, societal needs, and the visual imagination of graphic designers. Graphic design has been practiced in various forms throughout history and some examples of graphic design from the history are the manuscripts in ancient China, Egypt, and Greece.
15000-10000 BC: The first evidence of Visual Communication with pictographsand symbols was found in the Lascaux caves of Southern France.
105 AD: Chinese government official Ts’ai invented paper.
1276: Printing arrives in Europe with a paper mill in Italy.
1450: Johannes Gutenberg was given credit for perfecting the system for printing type in books.
1530: Claude Garamond, a French type designer creating a face called Garamond.
1760: Beginning of industrial revolution, graphic design appeared as a diverse profession because of the launch of new technologies and commercial possibilities brought by the revolution.
1796: Aloys Senefelder develops printing technique of lithography.
1800: Development of first iron printing press by Lord Earl Stanhope.
1869: First advertising agency “N.W.Ayer and Son” were formed.
1880: Development of Halftone screen allows for the first photo printed with a full range of tone.
1876: The first logo to be trademarked was the Bass red triangle.
1886: Ottmar Mergenthaler is known for inventing the linotype machine( a device that could easily and quickly set complete lines of type for use in printing presses.)
1919: The Bauhaus, a German school was founded providing the framework for modern design.
1922: Typographer William A. Dwiggins coined the term graphic design to identify the emerging field.
1932: Stanley Morison oversees the design of Times New Roman font.
1957: Max Miedinger created Neue Haas Grotesk typefacewhich later renamed as Helvetica.
1984: Apple releases first Macintosh computer, featuring bitmap graphics.
1990: Photoshop first version was released and physicist, Tim Berners-Lee develops the world wide web along with HTML and the concept of the website addresses.
Best Graphic Design Application
1. Adobe InDesign CC
InDesign is one of the significant programs for graphic designers. It is a standard desktop publishing (DTP) software that designers are expected to use for creating and editing all kinds of visual materials. With InDesign, some of the things which can be made are:
- small postcard
- invitation
- posters
- brochures
- magazines
- books
Date of Release: 1999
2. Adobe Photoshop
Photoshop is one of the best raster graphics image editing tool that graphic designers use to manipulate photos and create graphics. It contains various features like cropping, editing, color-correction, creating clipping mask, layer mask and re-sizing images. Designers use Adobe Photoshop for creating:
- Matte Paintings
- Text Effects
- Special Effects
- Text Effects
- Digital Paintings
Date of Release: 1990
3. Adobe Illustrator
Illustrator is a vector graphics tool used for creating vector images, which are high-quality images that can be scaled up or down without losing its quality. Graphic Designers use Illustrator for creating
- logos
- charts
- diagrams
- illustrations
- stationery
- packaging
- brochures
Date of Release: 1987
4. Corel Draw
CorelDraw is a vector graphics editor mainly used for marketing and advertising businesses, majorly in print advertising area. Apart from creating logos, CorelDraw is a program used to create
- brochures
- newsletters
- various other printable documents using page layout features.
Date of Release: 1989
Becoming a graphic designer can be a stimulating career for individuals having a good eye for visual aesthetics. Graphic Designers need to be creative with original concepts and work well as a member of a team. Do you have all these qualities? If yes, this could be a good career path for you!
In addition to being creative, Graphic Designers have to be proficient and updated with latest graphic design applications. If you are not familiar with the above given Graphic Design software, then with the help of diploma and certificate graphic design programs offered by ADMEC Multimedia Institute will help you make a pro in no time!