Introduction– It all started as a new way to print in order to avoid using cloth, and has since grown. Graphic design has been around for hundreds of years and gone through so many different changes. Different eras of time have produced different designs that are polar opposites from each other; however, there is always a different message behind every piece of art. Even if I don’t like every type of design, I have learned that you can’t have the future of design without the past. For example, surrealism never would have become so popular without the Dada movement!
Cubism– Cubism was in its prime from about 1900 to 1920, specifically 1907 till 1921. The most famous artist of this type of design was Pablo Picasso. Cubism aims to show all of the possible viewpoints possible all at one time. It got its name because the artwork looks as if they are made out of cubes and other similar geometric shapes. I enjoy cubism because of its uniqueness. Normally, I enjoy graphic design that is very straight forward and don’t like things that are abnormal due to my OCD. One of the first art classes I can remember covered Pablo Picasso and I’m currently getting flashbacks of learning graphic design before I even knew that I was.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cubism
https://www.britannica.com/art/Cubism
Futurism– Established by poet Filippo Marinetti in 1909, he based his design on science rather than the normal classical form. This is similar and shows remnants of cubism. This type of design is solely focused on speed, energy and change. It is another form of modernist movement. These types of design always catch my eye because of the real speed and movement you can see and feel inside of the art. I myself am a person who has to constantly moving. I can see some of myself in some of these designs the closer I look and think it might be my favorite we have learned about all year.
https://artsandculture.google.com/entity/futurism/m01hl64?hl=en
https://www.moma.org/collection/terms/46
Dada-This design took place from 1916 until 1923 and was heavily focused around the war. Dada was an art movement that was formed during World War One in Zurich Switzerland. The main purpose was to show a reaction that was usually negative to some of the horrific terrors and devastation from the war. This type of design is often very dark or satirical. I was immediately attracted to this type of design for two reasons. The first is I am very fortunate to have been to Switzerland, Zurich actually and luckily I have seen some art inside of a few museums on my trip. I also have close to an unhealthy obsession with World War One and two. I have countless family members and have taken many trip to large war moments and places where big battles have occurred such as Normandy beach in France.
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/dada-115169154/
https://www.artsy.net/gene/dada
Surrealism– Surrealism was a movement of design that developed in Europe within the aftermath of World War I, it was largely influenced by Dada. It had a strong correlation to the dream analysis being done by Sigmund Freud. This type of design focuses on chaos and unconscious desires in order to try to bring out the unconscious mind. Imagination, consciousness and unconsciousness the main ideas behind surrealism. This one is one of my person favorite types of design, it combines my love of for knowledge of the wars with my biggest love; psychology. I am currently a psych major and have done a lot of work on Freuds dream analysis and still continue to learn about it every few months. Its also just interesting to try to understand what is going on, surrealism is a roller coaster type of art.
https://www.tate.org.uk/art/art-terms/s/surrealism
https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-what-is-surrealism
Conclusion- There are endless types of graphic design, and there will be more. There are so many different types of visual styles and very different movements in history. When it comes to my personal preference I feel as though I respond well to Cubism, Futurism, Dada and surrealism. Although four of these are similar to each other in a few different ways the are very different and show many individual characteristics the other styles just simply don’t posses. Surrealism and Cubism defiantly have to be my favorite types we have learned about all year, I saw this because of the correlation between these types of design and my life. The intertwine in a few different ways with my life. I think there’s no such thing as bad design as long as there is a message behind it and it is not just thrown together but rather made with thought and purpose.
