The origin of graphic design in America

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By the time "graphic design" was first printed in 1922, American design professionals had already established a discipline that merged visual art with mass communication. Ellen Mazur Thomson explores the early development of the graphic design profession, challenging the belief that it only emerged with the arrival of European modernism in the 1930s. She reveals that the practice began shortly after the Civil War, as advancements in printing and reproduction technology transformed mass communication. Thomson examines the evolution of design practices from 1870 to 1920, highlighting how designers recognized shared interests and forged a professional identity. She investigates what early designers did, how they learned their craft, what they called themselves, and how they organized their work. Utilizing original period documents, the author delves into design activities across the printing, type founding, advertising, and publishing industries, placing the early history of graphic design within the broader context of American social history. This comprehensive study sheds light on a neglected area, offering a fresh perspective on design as a discipline intertwined with social change.