Modern Graphic design

Modern graphic design of the early 20th century, much like the fine art of the same period, was a reaction against the decadence of typography and design of the late 19th century.

Modern typography was characterized by the use of the sans-serif and serif typeface, fonts used in our days too because serif type is easier to read for its property of "drawing your eye" from character to character.

Inspired from the latter 19th century graphic design tendencies, new typographers started developing new typefaces and writing inspiring graphic design books, bringing this way a "new look" into graphic design.

One of them, Edward Johnston - type designer, calligrapher, author, teacher - wrote a book in 1906 called "Writing and Illuminating and Lettering" causing something of a "renaissance" for calligraphy. It is considered one of the most influential books on calligraphy ever written. He also created several font types used in our days too: Hamlet-Type (1912-27), Imprint-Antiqua (with G. Meynell and J. H. Mason , 1913), Johnston Sans Serif (1916).

Another inspiring figure of that time, Eric Gill - sculptor, graphic artist, type designer - produced impressive stone sculptures (for the BBC building in London, for the stations of the cross in Westminster Cathedral in London), worked for several presses creating initials, illustrations and text types, wrote several books regarding graphic design ("Essay on Typography", "Autobiography") and was the subject for other ones and also designed several font types: Gill SansT (1927-30), Golden Cockerell Roman (1929), Perpetua (1929-30), Solus (1929), Joanna (1930-31), Aries (1932), Floriated CapitalsT (1932), Bunyan, Pilgrim (1934), Jubilee (1934). He also founded his own hand-press and worked on printing luxury bibliophile editions. An interesting thing is also the fact that he designed a postage stamp which was in use for 15 years.

Jan Tschichold - typographer, calligrapher, author and teacher - codified the principles of modern typography in his 1928 book, "Die neue Typographie" and even if he said afterwards that his book had a fascistic influence, it remained highly influential. He wrote several other books too, received important awards for his modern graphic design work and he also created some typefaces like: Transit (1931), Saskia (1931), Zeus (1931), SabonT (1967).