Meggs' History of Graphic Design

By Philip B. Meggs and Alston W. Purvis

Book Overview

Note from the publisher: The Interactive Resource Center is an online learning environment where instructors and students can access the tools they need to make efficient use of their time, while reinforcing and assessing their understanding of key concepts for successful understanding of the course. An access card with redemption code for the online Interactive Resource Center is included with all new, print copies or can be purchased separately. (***If you rent or purchase a used book with an access code, the access code may have been redeemed previously and you may have to purchase a new access code - ISBN: 9781118922248). The online Interactive Resource Center contains resources tied to the book, such as: Interactive Resources: Flashcards featuring images from book for image identification self-study Self-test assessment by chapter Image Gallery featuring key designers and their work Downloadable Resources: Indices of key terms and people ***Winner of the First-Ever QED (Quality, Excellence, Design) award by Digital Book World*** This is the unrivaled, comprehensive, and award-winning reference tool on graphic design recognized for publishing excellence by the Association of American Publishers. Now, this Fifth Edition of Meggs' History of Graphic Design offers even more detail and breadth of content than its heralded predecessors, revealing a saga of creative innovators, breakthrough technologies, and important developments responsible for paving the historic paths that define the graphic design experience. In addition to classic topics such as the invention of writing and alphabets, the origins of printing and typography, and postmodern design, this new Fifth Edition presents new information on current trends and technologies sweeping the graphic design landscape--such as the web, multimedia, interactive design, and private presses, thus adding new layers of depth to an already rich resource. With more than 1,400 high-quality images throughout--many new or newly updated--Meggs' History of Graphic Design, Fifth Edition provides a wealth of visual markers for inspiration and emulation. For professionals, students, and everyone who works with or loves the world of graphic design, this landmark text will quickly become an invaluable guide that they will turn to again and again.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0470168730
• ISBN13: 9780470168738
• Release Date: November 2011
• Publisher: Wiley
• Length: 624 Pages
• Weight: 4.88 lbs.
• Dimensions: 11.3" x 1.5" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Most Comprehensive Graphic History text around!

I bought this book for a class and am incredibly impressed. It covers the evolution of graphic communication from the earliest cave paintings to the web. This book has incredible pictures and describes different styles in an easy to understand format. It is thick, but is one of the best reference books for choosing style and historical content. I normally sell back my textbooks, but this one is staying in my library!

A very good book for introductory design

This book gives a concise background on the history of graphic design. It incorporates how graphic artists react to the times and societal issues they are faced with, and how they influence the world around them with their innovations. The collection of images is quite spectacular! A must have for every graphic designer and/or art lover!

The Book

This is The Book, a must-have. Incredibly helpful. What I like best - it provides an outstandingly complete context in which certain individual works and trends were developed. Also, you don't have to read the whole - very big - book to understand the things you're currently looking for; it's a great reference. And if you don't find something, at least you know where else to look and which next bookshelf to address. Nothing comes close.

Must have reference book for graphic designers

In my opinion, this 3rd Edition "A History of GD" is the best reference book written about graphic design. This 500 plus pages book/bible is simply divided into 5 sections, 1) The Prologue to Graphic Design, 2) A Graphic Rennaissance, 3) The Industrial Revolution, 4)The Modernist Era, and 5) The Age of Information. The topics range from the invention of writing to, creation of new typogrphic styles to, the digital revolution and computer art. There are plenty of graphics and photos on every page to accompany the wonderfully written text. If you study art history or graphic design, I think this would be a great reference book to have. It will take some time to read the entire book. But this is like a text book, so, reading only part of the chapters would be quite informative as well. Once you are done, you will definitely appreciate graphic design/graphic designers.

a reference for every project

I was introduced to this book early in my undergraduate studies of design but rediscovered it during my recently completed senior year. It became a reference for every project and a permanent fixture on my bedside table. I was required to read many different books on history but this was the only one that I read time and time again.