“Design is
the method of putting form and content together. Design, just as art, has
multiple definitions; there is no single definition. Design can be art. Design
can be aesthetics. Design is so simple, that’s why it is so complicated”
— Paul Rand
Graphic Design is a combination of Text and images. It has 3 different purposes:- persuasion (propaganda), information (signs) and instruction. Graphic Design became widely used after WWII.
 |
| Jules Cheret, El Dorado, 1894 |
In this blog, I’m about to tackle the transformation of the
Art Poster over the years. A poster includes an expression of economical,
social & cultural life. They started
as a mass production and show famous artworks at a very low price, compared to
the original artwork. Ability to combine text and illustrations which finally
made lithographic posters reduced. Jules Cheret, Henri de Toulouse Lautrec,
Jacques Villon were the exponents of the poster till the 1890’s. Jules Cheret,
the father of the poster, was also a massive contributor to the world of
advertising. He developed the famous process named “three stone process”, where
the rainbow colours can be achieved through the primary colours, the main
characteristics of his posters were a feminine figure, drawn lettering and very
bold with a cartoonish touch. When the French Art Nouveau started, Alphonse
Mucha, simplified Cheret’s style. His posters were more colorful with a bold
outline, animated with most of them including a female figure with a stained
glass background. Art Nouveau, in Italy was known as the Liberty style.
Cappieldo’s work, influenced from Cheret & Lautrec took over other artists
work. He used a lot of dark backgrounds to create a strong contrast with the
use of complimentary colours. Aubrey Beardsley composed black and white
illustrations, conveying a great contrast. He also used flat perspective in his
work. The figures were influenced from the Japanese graphic art. Will Bradley
took over Beardsley, when he passed away. He combined Art Nouveau with Medieval
and Renaissance art. His work in children’s illustrations and paintings was
fascinating. The Wiener Workstation workshop, aimed for quality improvements.
It brought various artists and designers together. The main characteristics are
the breaking down of objects to simple shapes and the use of geometric patterns
with minimum decorations. The Beggarstaff brothers formed an innovative style
but wasn't popular. Simplified shapes, few strong colours, less lettering &
hand drawn. Bernhard Lucian took their idea and managed to popularize it. He
then became the master of Plakastil, which is the simplification and definition
of objects with flat colours. Advertising posters include only images of the
object being advertised.
Lucian Bernhard
 |
| Some of Peter Behrens's posters |
From a floral, Japanese prints, Egyptian style to a more
serious, refined version of Art Nouveau, Art Deco. The main characteristics of
Art Deco are futurism, cubism, constructivism, neo-classicism, abstraction to modern
artists such as Hoffman and Frank Lloyd Wright. Peter Behrens is known as the founder of modern
design which is linked with Jugendstil (a style similar to art Nouveau). In his
posters he is not only taking care of the product, but viewing it as a whole
entity, from introduction till the end. The beginning of constructivism started
with a highly contrasted geometric composition. The Futuristic movement in
Italy was rejecting harmony and order but expressing speed and movement. Their
arrangements created a transformation from the traditional typography to new
forms and design. Their font types weren't linear, and most of the forms didn't make any sense but created a sense of expression. DADA’s aim was to destroy the
traditional art and create a new one, without following any known rules.
Subverting images to collages, photo montages, extremes which made them use
ready made objects. Hannah Hoch was one of the most aesthetically gifted
collagists of the Dadaists.
 |
Hannah Hoch, Cut with the Dada Kitchen Knife through
the Last Weimar Beer-Belly Cultura
l Epoch in Germany, 1919 |
Sources
Timetoast, 2012, History of Graphic Design
Available at:- http://www.timetoast.com/timelines/53704 (accessed on 13.11.2012)
Edward Booth-Clibborn & Daniele Baroni, Thames & Hudson, 1980, The language of Graphic Design
