GRAPHIC DESIGN HISTORY: THE AGE OF INFORMATION

2.1 Lesson - Modern Design America

Part 1

Brief: Explore social media and the Internet to find examples of conceptual illustrations that aptly describe a complex political, social, or cultural idea. See if you can find examples of:

  • Publications that address global issues and so-called wicked problems.
  • Publications that address national issues.

Write a sentence or two about these illustrations.

I found a few different examples for this task, but I picked three that I felt were the most powerful in terms of conceptual illustration.

The cover for TIME Magazine describes the political and national mess Donald Trump left behind for his successor, President Joe Biden to clean up, while he magazine cover for The New Yorker brings attention to the issues global warming. Lastly, this article published in NUT Magazine describes the dangers of children using social media. 

Credit:
Publication: TIME Magazine
Illustrator – Tim O’Brien

Publication: The New Yorker          
Illustrator – Jon Cuneo          

Publication: NUT Magazine           
Illustrator – Eva Bee                 

Part 2

Brief: Design a psychedelic poster.

My original design.

My design after a colour adjustment.

2.2 Lesson - Postmodern Design

Brief: Design a Pop Art style poster.

I used Postmodern culture to create a concept based on the things people are most consumed by in normal day to day life – beauty standards, money, and social media. 

My original design.

My design after a colour adjustment.

2.3 Lesson - The Digital Revolution

Brief: Design a poster where the New/Wave/Punk style is evident.

My original design.

My design after a colour adjustment.

2.4 Lesson - Challenges Ahead

Brief: Find a graphic designer from history that you’ve never come across before – someone less known to the public that you feel needs some acknowledgement. Write a short paragraph about them and why you find their work inspiring and important. 
Choose one or two of their works to add to your paragraph. 

Rogério Duarte

After browsing the web and looking at some lesser known graphic designers of history, I came across an artist whose work really stood out to me from the rest – Rogério Duarte (1939 – 2016).

Rogério Duarte was a Brazilian graphic designer, poet, composer, intellect, and activist. He played a crucial role in the development of Tropicalism – a movement that opposed the military regime that controlled Brazil between 1964 and 1985. Duarte was a huge figure during the 1960’s and 1970’s for Brazil’s counter-culture avant-garde efforts, and was among artists who sought to unify the popular and the avant-garde, as well as blend Brazilian tradition and foreign traditions. He moved from Brazil to Rio de Janeiro to study industrial design, and later taught design at the Museum of Modern Art in Rio de Janeiro.

What I find important and inspiring about Duarte’s work is how he utilised design to fight back against modernism and to re-define Brazilian culture. A lot of his art is bright, colourful, and vibrant, which probably brought a sense of joy and hope to people during the military dictatorship.