Research and Some Thoughts

To really begin my topic, we’ve got to figure out where all this graphic design came from. What prompted it? What spurred it along? Some of those answers can be found just by searching the web (oh, Internet…how I love thee) – and other answers might have more foundation in talking to those who use and utilize design products. But that will come later, I promise.

So, after painstakingly Google-ing any and every phrase I could think of to help me find any information on the beginnings of Adobe programming, I pretty much ended up with nothing. Well, obviously I found some important information, otherwise I wouldn’t have anything to go off of in this post, but I didn’t find as much as I thought I would. So more of my research will come later, but here’s what I’ve got for you so far. And before I get there, I’d like to direct you to the fantastic article that brought all of this information to my (and now yours as well) attention: http://www.webdesignerdepot.com/2010/02/20-years-of-adobe-photoshop/.

Did you know that in just one week, it’ll be Adobe Photoshop’s 20^th anniversary?

Yeah, I was kind of surprised too. I guess maybe I thought that because the Internet was nowhere near as advanced 20 years ago, I assumed that computer programming was just as down-in-the-dumps. But there you have it – Photoshop 1.0 was copyrighted in the years of 1989-1990 for Macintosh computers. After using Photoshop CS4, and seeing a screencap of the interface of Photoshop 1.0, I wish CS4 looked just as simple…but still maintained all its capabilities. But we’ll get to CS4 in time. Anyway, back to those ancient times called the 90s…

1991 - Photoshop 2.0 was released.
1992 – Photoshop 2.5
The programming for these versions (and subsequent versions that followed them) required more RAM in order for stability.
1994 – Photoshop 3.0 and the introduction of the Layers feature.
1996 – Photoshop 4.0
1998 – Photoshop 5.0 and the introduction of editable type which allowed for “pretty mastheads and decent web menus” – a huge step for designers.
1999 – Photoshop 5.5
2000 – Photoshop 6.0
2001 – Photoshop Elements – this program was marketed to non-design users who “didn’t understand or need some of [Photoshop’s] more advanced tools.”
2002 – Photoshop 7.0
2003 – Photoshop CS
2005 – Photoshop CS2
2007 – Photoshop CS3
2008 – Photoshop CS4

Check out this video (also linked by the “20 Years of Adobe Photoshop” article):

Definitely no need to watch the entire thing – lucky for you I checked it out. The most important point John Knoll (one of the creators of Photoshop) makes is right around the 4:00 mark to about 4:50. When talking about the programming of Photoshop, Knoll says that Adobe works so “artists can spend more of their time doing art” and less time with technology in the way. I think that’s a really pointed comment about technology, especially in relation to graphic design. He says that technology can get in the way for these “artists” – but isn’t technology the very thing that is allowing them to make and edit their art? Something to think about there.

Now, we’ve discussed the tools for graphic design. So what exactly is it? According to AIGI, the professional association for design that is located in New York, “Graphic design is a creative process that combines art and technology to communicate ideas” (http://www.aiga.org/content.cfm/guide-whatisgraphicdesign). I was going to say the same thing, obviously. They just beat me to it. Really, I can’t say it better than this association – “graphic design informs, persuades, organizes, stimulates, locates, identifies, attracts attention and provides pleasure.” This is a fantastic definition, in my opinion. Graphic design clearly infiltrates every part of our lives – in business, in consumerism, in our government. It’s everywhere. But here is where I get stuck – art does those same things. At least, good art does. It sends out some sort of message: an opinion, a stance, and a point of view. It can be emotional, it can be shocking, and it can be disturbing. And so many more things. But the thing is, art tends to be something more personal. While graphic design on the other hand, tends to represent companies in logos, in web design, and in brochure design.

When I worked at that advertising firm this summer, I was amazed at how much design goes into every little detail for every company they worked with. Down to the type of paper, the color ink – everything represented the company they designed for. What words would be bolded? What words would be in all-caps? What is the color palette? Where do you put the logo? How big should the logo be? Every aspect it seems has an ulterior motive. And with traditional art, the motive is simply to be seen – to be heard – to inspire.

So where does art end and pure design begin?