William Blake, title page from The Book of Thel, 1789 (left). Herbert Temple, Ebony cover, Aug. 1969 (right).

11

Interpreting

A way of seeing, a point of view, an analysis, a translation, storytelling, and use of metaphor.

Graphic design helps translate and broaden the meaning of ideas through a multitude of forms and techniques. A way of seeing, a point of view, or an analysis can all be communicated through graphic design and illustration. Through methods like metaphor (comparison of non-similar things) and abstraction (reducing form to its essence), design has the power to expand our understanding in unexpected ways, widen perspectives, and project emotion. This power is seen in graphic illustrations, book covers, album art, magazine spreads, and film titles where designers help communicate the unique ideas of writers, musicians, and directors.

Topics

  • Visualizing the unknown
  • Space as the essence of design
  • The Glasgow School—abstraction and symbolic drawing
  • The Vienna Secession—interpreting through symbols
  • Interpretive typography in Europe
  • Cubism
  • Interpretations of De Stijl
  • Expressionism
  • American books, magazines, and records at mid-century
  • CCA expresses ideas in advertisements
  • Posters and the conceptual image
  • The Polish poster
  • The conceptual studio
  • Album cover art expands
  • Experimentation with digital tools
  • Editorial design in the late twentieth century
  • Motion graphics and film titles
  • Contemporary poster design