A Visual History of Graphic Design - A comprehensive look at hundreds of iconic works, profiles of industry leaders, and illustrated timelines for each decade.

History is a complex matter. Fortunes rise and fall, empires grow and decline, and change—be it social, political, or technological—comes with its winners and losers. Through the turbulent course of time, graphic design—with its vibrant and clear composition of image and idea—has distilled the spirit of each era.

This book offers a comprehensive history of graphic design from the end of the 19th century to the remnants of World War II. It traces the evolution of this creative field from its beginnings in poster design to its further development in advertising, corporate identity, packaging, and magazine design.

Organized chronologically, the work includes over 2,500 significant designs from around the world, 71 of which are profiled in detail, as well as 61 leaders in the field, including Alphonse Mucha, Edward Johnston, El Lissitzky, Herbert Matter, Saul Bass, and A. M. Cassandre.

With a comprehensive understanding of the field, author Jens Müller selects the top designs for each year, accompanied by an enduring sequence of design milestones. Meanwhile, in his introductory essay, David Jury places graphic design from its origins in early printing, engraving, and lithography to the stunning creative developments of the 19th century.

Each subsequent decade is introduced by a concise overview, as well as an impressive visual timeline, offering a vivid depiction of the variety of graphic production in each decade and the global landscape it describes and defines.

As we move forward and reflect on the 20th century, this stunning collection represents the foundation of what will influence some of the rapidly changing creative fields and a long-overdue recognition of graphic design's massive contribution to the economy, politics, social causes, the arts, media, and the perception of the world.

A second volume in preparation will cover the period from 1960 to the present.