Graphic Design: A New History

Graphic Design: A New History

Stephen J. Eskilson
$60.00
Publication Date: May 21st, 2019
Publisher:
Yale University Press
ISBN:
9780300233285
Pages:
472
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Description

A classic and indispensable account of graphic design history from the Industrial Revolution to the present
 
Now in its third edition, this acclaimed survey explores the evolution of graphic design from the nineteenth century to the present day. Following an exploration of design’s prehistory in ancient civilizations through the Industrial Revolution, author Stephen J. Eskilson argues that modern design as we know it grew out of the influence of Victorian-age reformers. He traces the emergence of modernist design styles in the early twentieth century, 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.
 
Contemporary considerations bring the third edition up to date, with discussions of app design, social media, emojis, big data visualization, and the use of animated graphics in film and television. The contemporary phenomenon of the citizen designer, professionals who address societal issues either through or in addition to their commercial work, is also addressed, highlighting protagonists like Bruce Mau and the Center for Urban Pedagogy. This edition also features forty-five additional images, an expanded introduction and epilogue, and revised text throughout. A newly redesigned interior reinforces the fresh contents of this now-classic volume.

About the Author

Stephen J. Eskilson is professor of art at Eastern Illinois University.

Praise for Graphic Design: A New History

“There is no question that Eskilson’s book should find a place on the shelf.”—S. Skaggs, Choice

“One of the great pleasures of reading and reviewing, especially outside one’s expertise, is the discovery of a volume that offers education, enlightenment, and perhaps even a bit of amazement. . . . Like your favorite pleasure food, once you start reading, you can’t stop.”—Lynne Cooke, Technical Communication

“One of the best accounts of the history of graphic design from the late 19th century to the present currently published in English.”—Choice

Praise for previous editions:
 
“Eskilson looks at design from the art perspective more than the others do, which is valuable because design does indeed intersect with art movements.”—Steven Heller, New York Times Book Review
 
“Eskilson . . . scrupulously tells the history of graphic design, beginning with the printing of the Gutenberg Bible to today’s digital design-it-yourself pages on social-networking Web sites. What makes this history ‘new’ is the author’s focus on the role that technology has played, for better or worse, in the evolution of design style.”—Lisa Rossi, Wall Street Journal
 
“Art historian Eskilson has created a uniquely comprehensive, discerning, and vital history. . . . Eye-opening on many levels.”—Booklist
 
“[Eskilson] has done excellent work synthesizing a vast range of secondary literature on the history of graphic design; he has done an even stronger job amassing a body of rich, engrossing, and often surprising visual material presented via top-quality reproductions. . . . Through that mix of established landmarks and fresh finds from the archive, Eskilson goes far in enlarging the history of graphic design.”—Ellen Lupton, I.D. International Design Magazine
 
“A weighty and extremely accessible history of graphic design. . . . What this book does and does very well, is help us look back and trace our roots with the rigour that our discipline very much deserves and needs. . . . This book is very simply a story of graphic design: its roots and its progression looking at cultural, political, and social context while addressing recurring themes throughout the decades. . . . I liked this book very much.”—Anna Gerber, Plus ca Change