Although computers have only been in use for a small part of the history of graphic design, their utilization has revolutionized the art form, making graphic design and computer graphics almost synonymous. While creativity and critical thinking skills are still the most important aspects of good graphic design, the computer is still an indispensable tool few designers can live without.
The Advent of Computer Art
Dr. Charles Csuri is widely acknowledged as the father of computer art. As early as 1964, he saw the potential of using the quickly emerging technology of computers to create works of art. While his digitally created pieces were regarded as fine art rather than graphic design, Dr. Csuri's work demonstrated how the mathematical precision offered by computers could be used to enhance the qualities of art.
Computers for Typesetting
The printing industry had, for some time, regarded the typesetting phase of the process as the most tedious, time consuming and expensive, found an answer in 1965 when Dr. Rudolf Hell introduced the Digiset typeset system. Rather than having to manually "burn" letters onto a piece of printing film (the master from which the rest of the prints are made), typesetters could now use a pre-made set of letters placed and sized perfectly by a computer. By the mid-1970s, all typesetting was done digitally.
Adobe Illustrator
In 1987, Adobe introduced Illustrator, a computer graphics program originally intended to be used to manipulate and place Postscript lettering (by then replacing Digiset letters). As add-on features, the program allowed for the creation and manipulation of shapes, a feature that graphic designers saw as an easy way to create more precise layouts and logos. By the mid-1980s, Adobe Illustrator had become the premier software for graphic design.
The Internet
Since the advent of the Internet in the early 1990s, the main vehicle for the movement of information has moved from the printed page to the computer screen. As a result, graphic design and, more specifically, graphic design created on the computer has taken on a more essential role. No longer just a tool of the advertising world, computer-created graphic design finds itself in the websites of every aspect of the business and everyday life.
The Future of Computer Created Graphic Design
With adeptly and creatively constructed Internet graphics to compete with, those in print media have been forced to utilize the growing versatility and precision of computer graphic design. Most magazines today use fancier, more innovative design elements not seen just a few years ago.
