Graphic Design: A New History, Second Edition - Stephen J. Eskilson

Now in its second edition, this innovative look at the history of graphic design explores its evolution from the 19th century to the present day. Author Stephen J. Eskilson demonstrates how a new era began for design arts under the influence of Victorian reformers, tracing the emergence of modernist design styles in the early 20th century, and examining the wartime politicization of regional styles. Richly contextualized chapters chronicle the history of the Bauhaus and the rise of the International Style in the 1950s and '60s, and the postmodern movement of the 1970s and '80s. The book's final chapter looks at current trends in graphic design, with in-depth discussions of grunge, comic book, and graffiti aesthetics; historicism and appropriation; and the influence of technology, web design, and motion graphics.

A GRAPHIC DESIGN HISTORICAL TIME LINE: INFORMATION DESIGN

The Project :

“This is design at its best: an exercise in reduction. As designers, we are the world’s great reductionists. We problem-solve by analyzing available information, and with our audience in mind, extract the vital and salient points to achieve a level of simplicity that is engaging, informative and memorable.”

Content :

From origins through the current era, design a time line product that showcases the important dates, images and events in graphic design. Copy should include name of era, description of era, style of era, specific contributors and dates

Imagery, Typography, and Colors :

Be sure to include imagery, typography and color as content, along with other attributes you feel are relevant.

EPHEMERA SERIES.

ART 304 PROJECT 2. EPHEMERA SERIES. 11 total (no process book)
Ephemera: Things that exist or are used or enjoyed for only a short time. Items of collectible memorabilia that were originally expected to have only short-term usefulness or popularity.
Series: One for each era in the History of Design
Individual (not a team project)

“Versatile designers enjoy the most success because they can employ a range of styles to design for a variety of clients. This is your opportunity to explore and expand your personal range of styles.”

THE PROJECT

STEP 1: Choose a product you would like to promote. Choose any product that would have existed from 1800’s to today, or a product that would be promoted well by featuring a series of the design eras. Such as: shoes, glasses, hats, clothing, makeup, watches....

STEP 2: Choose a company name. Your client, (insert company name here), has commissioned you to design a series of ephemera items.

STEP 3: Select a small ephemera item of your choice such as bookmarks, clothing tags, coasters, note cards, calling cards, CD covers, etc. featuring your client’s line of products. The design of your items will be so engaging that consumers will want to collect the entire series, and you will have achieved maximum exposure and interest for your client.

PROJECT SPECIFICS

You’ll feature 11 eras, one era/chapter per week, corresponding to the reading assignment. Design one layout template to use for all 11 items in the series (continuity of campaign).

Although your first ephemera item is due by the third week of class, I imagine that you will want to explore ideas and refine your layout throughout the semester. Although you will submit each week, you will need to submit a refined, completed series of 5 favorites at the end of the semester.

Develop a simple logotype for Your Company, and apply to the items. (You can refine this throughout the semester, also.) Research the products you’re advertising and find images that authentically represent the era.
Using your template and design skills, design in your interpretation of the era.
Print both front and back of your item on one side of a 8.5 x 11 paper.

SIZE/FORMAT

Your choice; consider limitations such as printing paper size and user experience. Ex. bookmark should fit in a book, coaster should fit under a glass. Horizontal or vertical. You can choose to die cut, fold, etc.

CONTENT

FRONT: features logo, website, image of product with its name and brief description; era name, dates.
BACK: Keeping in mind you are selling a product, use attributes of the era to describe the product, mentioning the salient points from your reading such as the historic and artistic influences of the time.

IMAGERY

You can work with the product image as you wish, whether illustration, Photoshop, filtered, silhouette, cut-out, etc. Keeping consistency in mind, you can vary the image treatment per era as you see fit.

TYPOGRAPHY

Feature at least one typography style of the era.

COLORS

Unlimited number but use colors that are indicative of the era.