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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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351 - 375 of 543 Reviews for Ideas from the History of Graphic Design

By Худабашян В М

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Apr 21, 2021

Such a great course!

By Gabriella G R

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Nov 6, 2017

My favourite course!

By Vemula N

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Jun 9, 2025

course was too good

By Mahika M

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Jul 10, 2020

Fascinating course.

By Yana V

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Jul 18, 2017

i love you calarts.

By MohammadAmin A

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Feb 16, 2025

it was really good

By barry m

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Oct 13, 2020

thoroughly enjoyed

By camilo a f

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Oct 6, 2020

Excelente Material

By LU F

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Apr 2, 2019

Great information.

By Stella S

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Jan 16, 2018

Super interesting!

By Chufeng H

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Sep 1, 2016

Inspires me a lot.

By Diana S C F

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Nov 18, 2021

love this course

By Teresa S

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May 28, 2021

Excellent course!

By Solomia P

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May 28, 2020

Very informative!

By Leonora P

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Apr 11, 2020

Excellent course.

By Oleksandra S

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Jun 21, 2019

Very good course!

By Khushbu J

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Nov 9, 2016

Very Informative!

By Manpreet K M

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Jun 27, 2023

Excellent course

By مريم ف ع ع

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Jan 8, 2021

love this course

By Голик Д Р

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Jul 16, 2020

Amazing course !

By Radeeyah Z K

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Jul 7, 2020

Very informative

By Manash G

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Jan 19, 2017

very informative

By Ruth D R

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Oct 18, 2021

goooooooooooood

By Krishna M C G

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Feb 9, 2021

I learned a lot

By Esa G

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Apr 8, 2020

Engrandecedor !