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From the 1990's to today, major changes in the history Graphic Design have taken place.

 Adobe purchased Aldus in 1994, and released a program called ‘InDesign’ in 1999, which has surpassed even Quark.  More advancements in technology during the time included software called Adobe PostScript, and the invention of desktop scanners.  PostScript made it possible for designer’s works to “output accurately to a PostScript enabled device, such as the Apple LaserWriter (the first PostScript enabled desktop laser printer).  Today, Post Script is being built into high end image setters, which allowed for printers and pre-press bureaus to output press quality film, directly from a publishers digital file”. (“History of Desktop Publishing and Digital Design”)


In the 1990s, Deconstructive Typography became an art movement.  Deconstructive Typography was an experimental approach.  The approach was to make the viewer ‘feel’ rather than ‘read’ the message. Another inspiration for the time was the Punk movement, which was ultimately also responsible for the Deconstructive Graphic Design movement, or ‘The New Typography’. (“The History of Visual Communication”)


In 1990, Adobe created and released a series of major programs that Graphic Designers use today.  Photoshop is a raster-based program that allows designers to change and manipulate images.  Adobe Illustrator is a vector based program created for drawing (an earlier version of Illustrator had actually been released earlier in 1986).  Adobe Dreamweaver was released in 1997 for webpage design.  Adobe’s thinking was that the images would be edited in Photoshop, illustrations drawn in Illustrator, and then processed in either InDesign or Dreamweaver.  Today, these programs are used every day by designers and are considered the industry standard. (“Adobe Creative Suite: The History”)


Back in 1980, the world received another major part of Graphic Design, the internet.  The internet was created by a Swiss computer programmer by the name of  Tim Berners-Lee He created a ‘web’ of information that was accessible to the world. (“ Invention of the Internet”)


It wasn’t until 1992 that a group of students developed a browser that allowed a user-friendly way to search the web.  They called the browser Mosaic, which later ended up being renamed to Netscape.  Users were now able to see images and text on a webpage by using scrollbars and links.  1992 also marked the year that Congress permitted the web for commercial use.  The internet was booming.  Companies saw the benefits of it and rushed to start their own websites not only to sell products, but also to market themselves.  Today not only is it used for information as well as creative outlets, business purposes, and hobbies, social networking and social media is also very prominent. (“The Invention of the Internet”)


Adobe kept enhancing and releasing new versions of their programs well into the 2000s and even today.  In 2003, Adobe released what they called ‘The Creative Suite’ and has been releasing updated versions up until this past year when Adobe Creative Suite CS 6 was released. (“Adobe Creative Suite”)


We have come a long way in Graphic Design. Coming from something we think of today as simple and in abundance of, paper, to our Adobe Creative Suite CS6, Graphic Design has built a sturdy and much more aesthetically pleasing bridge to communication.

The 1990's to Today

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