Brent Carnahan
Art 3450
Graphic design is the art of
communication. It is manipulating the
way we visualize the world. Design is
important in its effectiveness at expressing a message that may have been
easily overlooked before. With use of
basic art principles, the message is given impact and conviction. A good image will stick in the viewer’s mind
and perhaps change the subconscious. Form is very important in this process. However, intent is what gives the form
meaning. Without the meaning the work has little more than aesthetic value.
Graphic design comes about when a
message is communicated to a target audience by visual means. Often times a commissioner
will request an image to represent a company or an idea, and a designer will
find the most appropriate image to transmit this message. Graphic design is
also a form of art; designers may create images for creative purposes to express
themselves.
It is crucial to know design
history because it helps gauge what styles are appropriate and which ones are redundant. By studying the history of design one can
hope to learn how to create work that has timeless value and doesn’t depend on
current trends to make it impacting. We can also learn what has worked or not
worked for successful designers of the past to help avoid pitfalls and lead us
on a successful path.
Design opens doors to the viewer’s
imagination and plays with the subconscious.
To study how designers have employed this idea will help create a mental
library of valuable information, becoming practical when applied to our own
work. I believe that educating yourself on the history of design will also help
avoid duplicating others work, and promote a sense of integrity within our
own.
