We begin in the middle

Actually, we're nearing the finish line. Sandie and I began conceptualizing, researching, and writing the 7th edition of Meggs' History of Graphic Design in 2020. A lot has happened since then, but we've persevered. Starting in the middle isn't something new for us. We even work backwards from the end sometimes.

Here's what we have done so far.

1. We began by proposing restructuring the 7th edition thematically, changing from the chronological structure of the previous 6 editions.
2. We translated the entire 6th edition into an online version, carefully mapping the location and date of every artifact.

3. We convened an advisory committee to stress-test our proposed new structure, identify motivations for graphic design, and propose new additions to the book. We are grateful for the expertise of Ned Drew, Maria Habib, Brockett Horne, Bobby Martin and Dare Turner.
4. We wrote a complete sample chapter titled "Writing" to test whether exploring a motivation for graphic design in its own chronology is cohesive and enlightening as a succinct vein of design.
5. We designed a grid and type system to help foster continuity, but also produce dissonance to invite interrogation as a method of situating history.
6. We collated all existing figures into 13 chapters that are now each focusing on a motivation for design, ie. explaining.
7. We collated all writing that supports the figures into the new chapters.
8. We are editing and amending the text in the new chapters to make a cohesive narrative flow and to emphasize the theme of the chapter.

The 13 motivations we settled on are Writing, Exalting, …

This is detailed, difficult and tedious work. Much of graphic design is. But diligence, stoked by a few good hunches, usually pays off. We hope it will for this enormous project.