The Story of Graphic Design: From the Invention of Writing to the Birth of Digital Design

his book is an important addition to the increasingly diverse literature on the historical practice of graphic design. It is one of the few design histories to deliver a serious survey of the entire history of visual mass communication. Beginning with the development of writing systems, it goes into increasing detail as the account moves toward the 20th century. The last half of the book appropriately concentrates on the past 100 years, when design became defined as an independent discipline. The illustrations are extremely well chosen, the text eminently readable, and the insights plentiful. Graphic designer Cramsie does a superb job of walking the tightrope between condensation and comprehensiveness. This reviewer would readily recommend this book as a text in undergraduate graphic design history courses, even over the standard for such courses, Meggs' History of Graphic Design (4th ed., 2006), by P. B. Meggs and A. W. Purvis. For a compelling and truly comprehensive story of graphic design, this is the book against which others will be measured. Summing Up: Essential. All levels. Copyright 2010 American Library Association. Request The Story of Graphic Design from the catalog.