For our first field journal we were instructed to look at all the pictures in our textbook Megg's History of Graphic Design. After looking at all of the pictures in the book chronologically, it was evident that graphic design has evolved in a timely manner throughout its timeline. I stumbled across some familiar pictures, as well as ones I've never seen before.
Prior to examining all the pictures within the book, I read the first week's lecture introduction module and wanted to correlate the last statement in it with my observations, graphic design is about communication and meaning (Manske).
As I skimmed through the book I noticed two obvious things, words and pictures. They could be interpreted as being what they appear, but what keeps coming to mind is "a picture is worth a thousand words," and there is more to the picture then what is shown. Relating to the statement in the module, I always thought about what was the artist/creator of the picture/propaganda/writing and their intentions were. Portraying a male or female, the colors used, the words and their structure (in the sense of placement on the picture and if it's straight or designed a certain way), the fonts of the words, language, the list goes on. Whether if it's just advertising or a story, there's meaning behind it and it's trying to communicate (figuratively) to those who come across it.
Something else that came into mind (and correct me if I'm wrong please) was a similar language that was shared throughout the years, which is the language of images/pictures. This correlates to hieroglyphics, but also symbol signs we see on the road, whether it's a freeway, highway, or city street. If we were put into a new country that we don't know the language to, the picture symbols around the city would be very helpful instead of trying to learn the language in minutes.
