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

4.7
stars
2,544 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

KJ

Dec 5, 2016

Useful intro to the history of graphic design. The quizzes could have been more challenging though or involved doing more independent research on some of the graphic design periods discussed.

ER

Mar 22, 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.

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276 - 300 of 543 Reviews for Ideas from the History of Graphic Design

By Marvin V d D

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Jan 29, 2023

Very nice, But I hope I remember its history haha

By Tudor G

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Apr 17, 2019

Useful information and a guide to further reading

By Andre M O

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Aug 28, 2016

the first module root grows the tree (history) GD

By Ahmet h

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Jul 23, 2022

Thank you very much, it was a very useful course

By Sadaf T

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Feb 19, 2021

A Good explanation of history of Graphic Design.

By Qamar A A

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Oct 27, 2018

I really like to say thanks to my teachers here.

By Vijoleta B

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Oct 23, 2022

Отличный Курс! Спасибо огромне! Многое узнала!

By Sanskriti A

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Sep 1, 2020

Amazing course! Gives you a lot of information.

By Jyotishikha B

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Jun 11, 2020

Very useful part of learning graphic designing!

By Haider A

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Jun 17, 2017

Very informative and a truly remarkable course.

By Ashima T

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Oct 1, 2020

Amazing experimental course I enrolled so far.

By Gustavo P

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Sep 26, 2016

Excellent teachers, course and specialization.

By Nora g

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Mar 10, 2024

Thanks a lot it was an excellent course.

Great

By SERGIO C E

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Nov 2, 2021

Es un curso muy interesante. ¡Felicitaciones!

By Famke Q

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May 6, 2021

Really interesting and well organized course!

By Abdullah B G

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Sep 4, 2020

Amazing journey, learned allot of new things.

By Mr. C k c

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Aug 31, 2020

Great! I learn so much at the course! Thanks!

By Polina

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Nov 11, 2016

Super cours ! It is very interesting ! enjoy!

By Hien N

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Oct 20, 2021

Would be great to have more female examples.

By Sol I R

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Jul 10, 2017

Excelente curso! muy completo e interesante!

By Yolanda I I M

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Aug 19, 2025

Excelente curso y muy recomendado lo adoré.

By JOSE P

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Jul 24, 2021

muy bueno y rico en informacion y contenido

By Bambang P

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Dec 4, 2019

this is really great, small bites at a time

By GARAH A

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Oct 2, 2020

great course, full of information and fun!

By Roger V

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Mar 25, 2024

Excellent lectures, assignments and tests