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Learner Reviews & Feedback for Ideas from the History of Graphic Design by California Institute of the Arts

4.7
stars
2,535 ratings

About the Course

This condensed survey course focuses on four key periods or themes from the history of design in the West. Together we’ll trace the emergence of design as a recognized practice, why things look the way they do, and how designers approached specific design problems in their work. Students will develop an understanding of where the wide variety of today’s design practice comes from. By participating in this survey of the works of innovative groups and individuals, we outline the process by which graphic design moved from a purely instrumental practice, to becoming a demanding creative and hybridized field. Each week, a short quiz will test your knowledge of concepts, and a short reflective assignment will give you the opportunity to analyze the questions designers ask themselves today. This is an essential course for emerging designers entering the field, or for students interested in learning more about visual culture and analysis. No previous experience is required. A note about this course: This course is taught from the perspective of contemporary design, to connect ideas that helped formulate design practice from the 1850s through the 1960s to the ways that designers think today. The relationship of words and pictures in graphic design is looked at through the ever-changing social and cultural contexts, technologies, aesthetics, and politics of their eras. The definition and practice of graphic design includes all public visual communications, which is a global practice. It was the evolution of mass production and communication in the West that specifically redefined graphic design as a professional practice and is this course’s particular narrative. We hope students will consider how to connect the themes and ideas offered in this course to your own culture....

Top reviews

ER

Mar 21, 2022

I was a little bit nervous about this course, I always hated History in school, but surprisingly this was very good! I enjoyed it! The assignments were easy to understand and managebale to complete.

LP

Sep 12, 2020

It was extremely educational and helpful for me to learn design from its earliest forms up to the modern era that are all applicable for use in contemporary design forms and factors.

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251 - 275 of 541 Reviews for Ideas from the History of Graphic Design

By Valentina C

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Oct 6, 2016

Great course! Interesting & very well put together. Thank you!

By Jayni M ( L M D

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Mar 11, 2017

Eloquent and inspiring. You'll want to read more on your own.

By Karuppasamy P

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Mar 25, 2025

Elaborate and extensive course on history of graphic design.

By Deleted A

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Aug 8, 2019

one of the most interesting courses I have ever took part!!

By Nath W

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Jul 19, 2022

Apaixonada pelo curso e pela professora! Aprendi muito!!!!

By MPearsall

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Aug 11, 2021

Excellent material, resources, and instruction. Thank you.

By Smruti A P

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Sep 29, 2020

Wonderful course! Learned a lot from the history of design

By Ashley S L

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Jan 20, 2025

The classes were thoroughly explained and i learned a lot

By 08_K.Harika

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Jan 27, 2021

great insight on ideas from the history of graphic design

By Maike W

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Oct 5, 2016

Really informative and interestingly conveyed. Thank you.

By Tatiana M

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Jun 16, 2019

A very informative course with plenty of great examples.

By Ampol A

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Dec 26, 2017

W1 - Completed

W2 - Completed

W3 - Completed

W4 - Completed

By Daniela S

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Apr 9, 2020

Muy interesante aprender un poco de historia del diseño

By Supriya R

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Jan 2, 2020

Loved taking this course! Was explained extremely well.

By Yamini S N

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Dec 29, 2022

Learned a new things on the history of graphic design.

By Andres F Z P

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Jan 18, 2021

It is good to know where and how the basics were done.

By Angel D M G

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Apr 3, 2020

Great, but some problems with low audio in some videos

By Maya R

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May 20, 2019

Very nice overview over the history of graphic design!

By Joel A (

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Sep 8, 2016

This course is superb! Thank you for offering it here.

By Peter S

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Aug 7, 2016

Love the class a lot of great information and history.

By Albert N

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Dec 6, 2022

Everyone should take some time and study this course.

By Ramón A R

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Feb 10, 2022

An excellent course, valuable content, I recommend it

By Vlada S

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Aug 2, 2020

Great course! I enjoyed it so much, very interesting.

By TUĞBA A

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Jul 30, 2020

Thank you for giving us another aspect of this field.

By Leora L

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Dec 8, 2020

Very entertaining and educational, loved this course