Introduction:

Longum iter est per praecepta, breve et efficax per exempla Teaching by precept is a long road, but short and beneficial is the way by example.--Lucius Annaeus Seneca

"Alice was beginning to get very tired of sitting by her sister on the bank, and of having nothing to do: once or twice she had peeped into the book her sister was reading, but it had no pictures or conversations in it, “and what is the use of a book,” thought Alice, “without pictures or conversations?”--Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventure in Wonderland, New York , Crowell

This narrative chronicles the genesis and evolution of a comprehensive educational resource in the field of Graphic Design, spanning several decades and transcending geographical boundaries. Originating in Iran during the early 1970s, these lecture notes were conceived out of necessity, addressing a dearth of satisfactory reference materials for aspiring designers.

The journey of these notes mirrors the author's own professional trajectory, traversing continents and weathering the vicissitudes of time. A serendipitous encounter with former students in Vancouver catalyzed the resurrection and dissemination of this valuable pedagogical tool. However, the intervening years had witnessed paradigm shifts in both the technical and conceptual aspects of Graphic Design, necessitating a thorough revision to ensure contemporary relevance.

The attempt to publish this revised compendium on Wikipedia encountered myriad obstacles, primarily stemming from the platform's stringent editorial policies. These regulations, ostensibly designed to maintain objectivity and prevent copyright infringement, proved to be a double-edged sword. While they safeguard against unsubstantiated claims, they also risk stifling original scholarship and nuanced artistic perspectives.

The transition to the English Wikipedia, while offering some respite in terms of copyright restrictions, particularly for educational materials falling under the Fair Use Doctrine, presented its own set of challenges. The author's philosophy of creating a visually rich, self-explanatory history of Graphic Design often clashed with Wikipedia's editorial practices, resulting in what the author perceived as arbitrary and detrimental alterations to the material.

This conflict between the author's vision and the constraints of digital platforms led to a renewed effort to create an independent, comprehensive resource. This process involved extensive outreach to artists for permissions, meticulous research, and the occasional setback due to technological limitations.

The resulting work stands as a testament to perseverance in the face of bureaucratic and technological hurdles. It represents not just a historical account of Graphic Design, but also a meta-narrative on the challenges of disseminating specialized knowledge in the digital age. The author's commitment to maintaining this as a "living document," continuously updated and refined, speaks to the dynamic nature of both the subject matter and the medium of digital publication.

The periodic surge in readership at the commencement of each academic year underscores the enduring value and relevance of this resource, vindicating the author's decades-long dedication to this project. It serves not only as an educational tool but also as a bridge between generations of graphic designers, fostering a continuous dialogue within the field.

gN 2/9/10 -- revised 23/3/14 -- revised 23/6/24

Here is a short list of lecture notes, graduate theses, scholarly articles and so on in  various countries that have referenced this history. This I consider my greatest reward.

Chetcuti Gabriel, (2014) Individual Work Essay – Alphonse Mucha and Milton Glaser, https://gabrielchetcuti.wordpress.com/author/gabrielchetcuti

Cole Richard Alan,  (2019), Fiction and the Historical Frame, A dissertation submitted to the University of Bristol in accordance with the requirements for award of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Faculty of Arts, School of Humanities, Department of Classics and Ancient History June 2019, https://research-information.bris.ac.uk/ws/portalfiles/portal/200317543/Fiction_and_the_Historical_Frame.pdf

[The] Danish Film Institute’s collection of Cuban Film Posters, (2013), Aphelis,  http://aphelis.net/danish-film-institutes-collection-cuban-film-posters

Elrayis Hanna, The Anti-Art Crusade Circa 1916, Ryerson University 

https://www.ryerson.ca/content/dam/gcm/images/Community/GCM110/magazines/Elrayis-Hanna.pdf

Falkowski K, (2015) The Falkowski Nation,   World History Honors, http://thefalkowskination.weebly.com/world-honors.html

Gerner Stephen, DES106 - Communication Design http://scm.ulster.ac.uk/~B00637409/des106/des106_diary.html

Grey Elinor, (2014), Lecture 5: Protest; Revolt, Record, Rebuild  WSA Research and Communication Skills, http://blog.soton.ac.uk/rcs/author/esg1g14/

Ibrahim Riem, (2013), Behaving Typography; Letterforms in Action,   International Master of Fine Arts UIC/HGK University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland Academy of Art and Design HGK FHNW Visual Communication Institute The Basel School of Design. file:///C:/Users/Farid/Downloads/MFA2013%20(2).pdf

Indonesia University of Education, Daftar Pustaka,  http://repository.upi.edu/11125/9/S_PSR_060400_Bibliography.pdf

Kiseljak Darija, (2012), Vizualni Identitet Hrvatskog Svemirskog Programa, Sveučilište U Zagrebu 

Grafički Fakultet, Zagreb http://eprints.grf.unizg.hr/1381/1/DB184_Kiseljak_Darija.pdf

Kotamanidou  N. (2013)  Σημειώσεις στο μάθημα Ελεύθερο Σχέδιο 2, Εαρινό Εξάμηνο 2013, ΤΕΙ Σερρών Τμήμα ΕΑΔΣΑ, Ν. Κοταμανίδου, http://eadsa.teicm.gr/E_Iliko/Ekpaideftiko_Iliko/____SX__2.pdf

Kopacz-Thomaidis Dorota. (2019), The Polish School of Poster, The E. Geppert Academy of Art and Design in 

Wrocław, https://www.atutoficyna.pl/uploads/images/41/The_Polish_School_of_Poster.pdf

Lyche Josefine, (2010), How deep the darkness, http://www.m759.net/wordpress/?s=krauss

Nickolas Lascot, Graphic Design History; Art Nouveau, Italian Futurism, Propaganda, Swiss Design, Pop Art  http://www.nicklascot.com/uploads/8/2/3/5/8235913/poster_design_research_guide.pdf

Macharla Kaushik, (2018), Modern-day issues related to Graphic Design and their solutions in a Historical perspective Modern Day Graphic Design Issues, 

https://www.academia.edu/37919846/Modernday_issues_related_to_Graphic_Design_and_their_solutions_in_a_Historical_perspective,  

Morgan Ashley, (2018),  Reading to Seeing, Köln International School of Design 

https://issuu.com/ashleymorgan/docs/deconstruction_

Morris Katie, (2020) Graphic Design + Ceramics, Adventures of an Art Teacher 

https://www.katiemorrisart.com/2020/03/graphic-design-ceramics_18.html

PBS, newshour, (2013), Brooklyn Community Arts& Media  (BCAM) Lesson Plans http://newshour-tc.pbs.org/newshour/extra/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2013/11/BCAM-Lesson-Plans.pdf

Sammut Antoine, (2014), Josef Muller-Brockman, http://antoinesammut.blogspot.ca/2014/01/josef-muller-brockman.html

Shaheen  Shiza, (2013),  Is There An Understanding of Minimalism in Pakistani Advertisement in Reference to Print Media, Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture, http://www.indusvalley.edu.pk/library/2013/Communication%20Design/Shiza%20Shaheen/Shiza%20Shaheen%20Dissertation.pdf

Smith, Margit J (2014) « The dust-jacket considered  », CeROArt [En ligne], 9 | 2014, mis en ligne le 12 janvier 2014, consulté le 12 septembre 2015. URL : http://ceroart.revues.org/3786

SOUTH TEXAS COLLEGE, (2015) Fine and Performing Arts, Division of Liberal Arts and Social Science, Art Department, Course Syllabus, Fall Semester 2015, http://www.tasart.org/TASAmaster_syllabi/ARTS2348%20Master%20Syllabus.pdf

Spremberg Alexander, (2017),  Critical Anachronism: The recovery of the everyday in the context of Non-objective painting, A thesis  presented for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy of Curtin University, 

https://espace.curtin.edu.au/bitstream/handle/20.500.11937/65945/Spremberg%20A%202017%20part.pdf

Sunandha Suan, Rajbhat University, (2014), http://www.teacher.ssru.ac.th/reudee_ni/file.php/1/Ceramic_Design_4/3-biblio.pdf

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