The student will be able to:

1. analyze visual communication in historical and cultural context.
2. discuss the relation of visual communication in various societal and cultural settings.
3. understand the historical principles of visual communication.
4. discuss issues and ramifications of the use of technology in visual communication.
5. analyze content and purpose in relation to specific media.
6. interpret images, symbols and typography.
7. understand the influence and impact of informative and persuasive media on culture.
8. discuss how images and icons of the past are being recontextualized to form new ideas and cross-cultural identities.

1. Historical survey
   1. Cave painting
   2. The invention of writing
   3. Graphic communication in Ancient Egypt
   4. Printing and printing trades
   5. Visual arts of the Renaissance
   6. Typography in the Industrial Age
   7. Photography as the new communications tool
   8. Lithography and printing
   9. Arts and crafts movement
      1. British
      2. American
   10. Art Nouveau
       1. French/Belgian
       2. Jugenstil
       3. Glasgow Style
       4. Vienna Secession
       5. American
       6. Italian
   11. The influence of modern & contemporary art
       1. Cubism
       2. Futurism
       3. Dada
       4. Expressionism
       5. De Stihl
       6. Contructivism
       7. Bauhaus
       8. Art Deco
       9. Surrealism
       10. Heroic Realism
       11. Abstract Expressionism
       12. Pop Art
       13. Conceptual Art & Fluxes
       14. Feminist Art Movement
       15. Printmaking resurgence
       16. Postmodernism
       17. Electronic Art
   12. Early Modern graphic design
       1. Plakatstil
       2. Wiener Werkstatte
   13. Modern graphic design
       1. Futurism
       2. Constructivism
       3. De Stijl
       4. Bauhaus
       5. New Typography
       6. Art Deco
       7. Heroic Realism
   14. Late Modern graphic design
       1. Swiss International
       2. Corporate identity and visual systems
       3. Polish
       4. Revival and Eclectic
       5. Psychedelic
       6. Japanese Modern
   15. Postmodernism
       1. Counter culture influences
       2. Punk
       3. New Wave
       4. Memphis
   16. Digital
       1. Emigre, Cranbrook, Cal Arts, Fuse
       2. Deconstruction
       3. Rave
       4. Kenetics
2. Historical analysis
   1. Relationships between historical periods and styles
   2. Developments of traditions and iconography
   3. Relationship of media and message
   4. Relationship between communicator and audience
   5. Communication strategies and social conditions
   6. New media and the global community
3. Visual experience
   1. Perception and response
   2. Information, influence and propaganda
   3. Media and experience
   4. Images in art and advertising
4. The expressive image
   1. Interpreting images in art
   2. Interpreting images in advertising
   3. Interpreting images in graphic design
   4. Interpreting symbols and identity systems
   5. Image appropriation and recontextualization

Not applicable.

Quizzes, tests or exams
Papers, projects, or field journals
Discussion

Lecture presentations and classroom discussion using the language of graphic design
In-class reading of graphic design texts by the instructor and students followed by instructor-guided interpretation and analysis
Group presentations of major projects followed by in-class discussion and evaluation

Meggs, Phillip, and Alston Purvis. A History of Graphic Design. 2016.

Although this text is older than the suggested "5 years or newer" standard, it remains a seminal text in this area of study.

1. Weekly reading assignments from assigned textbook.
2. Weekly reading of lecture highlights covering subject matter from assigned textbook.
3. Weekly reading from assigned internet links.
4. Weekly essays based on lecture and reading.
5. Weekly participation in online discussions.