Future Projects
How graphic design helped shape our nation
In honour of Canada ’ s 150th birthday , Globe Style did a series where they explored iconic examples of domestic design . One of their pieces discussed the longevity of Windsor Salt ’ s beloved dot motif box , designed by Canadian Chris Yaneff ; it ’ s a package design that has endured for nearly 40 years . The ability to create such a memorable piece is a true testament to the prowess of our industry .
The field of graphic communications has evolved over centuries . We ’ ve amassed a rich and diverse history of numerous technological advancements and , with the advent of computers and the Internet , graphic design has rapidly progressed with distinct styles and colour schemes attributed to specific time periods or designers . More importantly , it is the creators of each age who have shaped how society as a whole absorbs the media around them , because graphic communications is everywhere in brands , packaging , typefaces , mail , newspapers , magazines , etc .
There is a growing global initiative to preserve the legacy and recognize the pioneers in our community . From documentaries to books , these are a few of the sources that celebrate a culture of creativity and ingenuity :
Books
• VeryGraphic . Polish Designers of the 20 th Century , published by Culture . pl the 448 page book is a comprehensive compilation on contemporary graphic design in Poland . The publication contains a chronological record of the work of over 60 prominent polish designers over three distinct time periods .
• Just my Type : A Book About Fonts by Simon Garfield , is a tongue-in-cheek journey through the history behind popular typefaces , their creators , and their impact on design .
Online Collections
• Archivio Grafica Italiana is a visual database of Italy ’ s branding , posters , signage , books and more . The online archive contains many examples of visual communication along with biographies of influential Italian graphic designers .
• Designculture , founded in 2013 by Nicola-Matteo
Olivia Parker
Munari , is a website that aims to promote the culture of quality in design by publishing interviews , profiles , and insights of graphic designers from around the globe .
Documentaries
• Helvetica , released in 2007 , is a deep dive into the world ’ s most beloved and ubiquitous typeface . The movie provides a look at the font ’ s history and the pervasive influence of the typeface in our every day lives .
• Linotype : The Film , released in 2012 , this featurelength documentary explores how linotype completely transformed the communication of information and affected the world .
• Graphic Means premiered at the ByDesign film festival in Seattle in April 2017 . It describes the original graphic design techniques and the past half-century of changes the industry has experienced as a result of the introduction of desktop computer publishing .
Future Projects
This by no means is the end to the ongoing efforts to share our industry ’ s history with the world . Design Canada , a documentary chronicling the history of how Canadian graphic design has shaped the nation was funded on Kickstarter in March and is being executive produced by Gary Hustwit , the director of Helvetica . Set for release soon , it will explore the best examples of Canadian graphic design .
We must look backward to move forward . Thumbing through the archives of any established brand provides a window into how drastically some have changed , and yet perfectly preserved the ethos of their identity – and people thirst for that knowledge . For example , standards manual , a publishing firm dedicated to archiving and preserving design history , has already published graphic standards manuals for the New York City Transit authority , reissued NASA ’ s coveted 1976 graphic standards manual , and later this year will release the US Environmental Protection Agency graphic standards .
Design is a visual means of expressing bigger , more important ideas . All these sources provide inspiration and the foundation for modern and future design . While there may never be a definitive anthology on all things related to graphic design , the individual international efforts to share and chronicle a history that began with a German who printed a bible are truly awe-inspiring .