The History of Graphic Design: Early Cave Paintings to AI Art

The history of graphic design dates back to the earliest humans, who used images and graphics to communicate long before spoken or written language was created.

Pictures were their language, paving the way for the visuals we encounter daily, thousands of years later. 

Today, graphic design is a big part of our lives. From the design of the cereal box and coffee packet on the breakfast table to logos on our clothes, graphic design is all around us. In marketing, it plays a crucial role in shaping consumer perceptions, brand identity, and advertising effectiveness.

Bigger marketing agencies and companies typically have at least one graphic designer on staff. These designers use specialized drawing software to map out original artwork and graphics for clients’ marketing materials.

Why the history of graphic design matters 

For current students, and even those who have been working in the field for many years, the history of graphic design may seem unimportant. This is particularly the case with new technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) that can create graphics using written prompts quickly and easily. 

But like anything, understanding where you’ve come from is essential for building on what you have moving forward into the future. Studying the history of this art form can:

• Provide a contextual foundation. Understanding the origin of current design trends and what they signify for today’s audience is necessary for graphic designers who want to design graphics that appeal to a modern audience. This is especially important if designers are working in marketing and need to target a particular niche or audience demographic.
• Offer cultural insight. Building empathy with your audience is vital when creating graphics that are trying to sell or promote something. When designers are more empathetic towards different cultural attitudes and perspectives, they can incorporate this into their art, creating more relevant and meaningful designs.
• Develop tradition. Beyond the cultural perspectives, it’s important for designers to understand how their work fits into the bigger picture. How does this one piece of graphic design build on previous traditions, and how does it create new traditions for future artists? These questions can only be answered with a strong foundational knowledge of the history of graphic design.
• Help build critical perspectives. All designers should strive to be the best they can be. By thinking more critically about the prior work, designers have the opportunity to create pieces that better solve problems and communicate a message more effectively.

The beginning: Ancient graphic design (~38,000 BCE)

Some may argue that graphic design didn’t exist before the Industrial Revolution when graphics began to be used to sell and market products. But we need to think about it differently.

Instead, we must look at how visual imagery has been used throughout human history to communicate, whether for selling or simply conversing with other humans.

Historians generally agree that cave paintings from the prehistoric era, around 38,000 BCE, are the earliest form of graphic design and visual communication that have survived to the modern day. This is our first proof that humans have been using imagery for communication and enjoyment since our earliest days on the planet.

Source: smithsonianmag 

It’s easy to forget that the alphabet and writing as we know them today are man-made inventions. Although there are now over 300 written languages worldwide, the first recorded dates back thousands of years ago. 

How does this relate to graphic design, though? These early languages were logographic, meaning they used pictures to represent words rather than the phonetic alphabet we use in English today.

The Sumerians are typically credited with developing the first form of written language around 3000 BCE. Instead of drawing what they saw or ideas they had to communicate, their language consisted of pictures and symbols that were more structured and repetitive, mimicking human speech patterns.

Evolution of graphic design: Paper and printing (105 AD–1530 AD) 

Printing is generally seen as a medieval invention, but Chinese printing dates back to far earlier than this, around 200 CE. While the Ancient Egyptians are typically remembered for their handwritten hieroglyphics on papyrus paper, the Chinese used woodblock movable type and porcelain to create the world’s first “technical” printing press. This innovation occurred more than 400 years before Gutenberg did the same in Germany. 

Source: Woodblock printing  

Gutenberg's printing press

Once the Gutenberg press was introduced in the late 1430s, mass communication became possible. Rather than handwriting lengthy texts and scholarly books, this new printing method allowed literacy to become a more affordable and accessible pursuit. For the history of graphic design, this was equally as important.

Being able to mass produce written and visual documents relatively inexpensively allowed materials to be sent across the globe and be seen by hundreds, if not thousands, of people. This era marked the beginning of a new concept of graphic design for more than just communication. 

Printers’ marks, where book publishers stamped a unique design into publications so readers would know where it came from, are considered the first iteration of corporate logos in the world.

Source: Printing press 

Although it would still take several centuries for mass marketing to evolve, graphic design began to be used in this era for propaganda, education, and promotion of goods and services at the local level. By the 1620s, businesses were starting to mass produce printed advertising (although the Ancient Egyptians and Romans had done this on a smaller scale with handwritten materials).

Graphic design and the Industrial Revolution (1760-1840)

The Industrial Revolution rapidly changed the way industry worked around the world, introducing new machinery, jobs, and, with it, new forms of graphic design.

A specific form of manufacturing known as lithography was developed during this period, revolutionizing how graphic design could be used for mass communications and marketing. This technique involved inking either a metal or stone tablet before printing it onto paper—similar to the Gutenberg press but a new, revamped version for the 19th-century worker. It was later developed into chromolithography, which used color ink instead.

The rise of this technology allowed the brands to use many of the marketing techniques with graphic design that we’re still familiar with today. They used color to evoke certain emotions, created realistic depictions of people using sought-after products, and added a layer of realism that attracted audiences to shop and purchase the range of new goods.

First graphic design agency and design movement (1880s-1920)

Let’s now uncover the roots of modern graphic design, shaped during the pinnacle of the Industrial Revolution.

Art Nouveau and Bauhaus

Art Nouveau and Bauhaus are two influential design movements that have shaped modern art and design, impacting architecture, graphic design, and industrial design. Each movement has its own distinct style and philosophy. 

Art Nouveau emerged in the late 19th century and is characterized by decorative, organic designs inspired by nature. It features flowing lines and intricate floral patterns. 

Bauhaus was founded in Germany in 1919 by Walter Gropius. This movement emphasized functionality and simplicity, focusing on the integration of art and industry.

Source: Try vio-violet: a new Lundborg perfume 

Wiener Werkstätte

The first graphic design agency, Wiener Werkstätte, opened in 1903, with visual artists from various backgrounds becoming the first official graphic designers. Drawing on popular art styles of the day, such as Art Nouveau and Bauhaus, these designers incorporated these styles into their work. Marketing materials often mirrored popular architecture to capture the attention of audiences.

Corporate advertising and graphic design (1940-1970s)

By the late 1940s, brands were recovering in the post-war era and looking for new ways to market themselves. Paul Rand was widely regarded as the father of advertising during this period, helping some of the most recognizable brand names in America redesign their logos and establish themselves through their visual identity. UPS, ABC, American Express, and IBM are all corporations whose logos from this time are still in use today, with very little changes.

Rand’s contributions fundamentally transformed the graphic design industry. He emphasized maintaining with brands looking for a balance between a logo and visual identity that looked good but also communicated the essence of the brand. This remains a key principle taught to upcoming graphic designers today, guiding both new and established businesses in their branding strategies.

Source: Unsplash 

By the 1960s and 1970s, the postmodernism and pop art movements in the artistic world were also feeding into developments in graphic design. Inspiration ranged from numerous aspects of Western culture, from Hollywood to comic books. This highly stylized and bold visual look was a notable departure from previous graphic design but allowed designers greater freedom in their use of color and abstract visuals.

The digital era and graphic design today (2000s-present)

The invention of Photoshop in 1990 made graphic design more accessible, particularly for those without the formerly necessary drawing or painting skills required to be a graphic artist. Now, anyone could create professional digital images from their own computer.

Technology has continued to advance til today, with simple and user-friendly tools making graphic design available to even the consumers themselves. Photographic visuals are incorporated into graphic design alongside illustrations and typography, creating unique artwork and graphics that brands can use in their online and offline marketing materials.

Source: Unsplash 

Graphics are pervasive in our lives today, visible in nearly everything we do. From social media, mobile app tiles on our phones, and every webpage we open, they have some form of graphic present. AI has made graphic creation even easier, with simple verbal or written prompts creating realistic images in any style. AI graphic designers can automate many of their tasks, leaving them more time to explore innovative new ideas in this ever-changing field.

Here is a video that summarizes the history of graphic design.

Source: CryeStudio

Don't get too graphic!

As tools like AI continue to develop, the graphic design industry will likely evolve with them, as it has done for thousands of years. But, it’s important to remember that the creative vision of humans remains essential. Instead, we should consider how to use technology to enhance our creativity and explore where that exciting combination could possibly lead us.

Unleash your creative vision to the world with the best free graphic design tools that allows you to design your dream visuals.