iconic graphic design

[jackw]

Hi all,

I'm new to the forums, and im currently researching iconic graphic design throughout the ages and how technology has affected style etc for an essay I'm writing at the moment.

I havn't had much trouble finding examples from before the digital age, but I'm struggling to find good solid examples of work done during the era of the development of the computer, and the current (and possibly future) state of graphics design. :nohope:

So if anybody would like to point me in any direction here (because people on here seem to know their stuff!) I would be very appreciative, names of artists, specific works that I should take a look at etc

Thanks!

[Brendan N]

Don't know how much help you can find here, or how much help I can give you. Perhaps take a look at the 1968 Olympic games in Mexico - good example of iconic design in terms of way finding and such. It's not yet computer age but it's fairly modern.

Also take a look at Adobe, Microsoft and Apple. I think these companies are at the forefront of digital icon-related design today. Otherwise I'm afraid I can't really help you :(.

Good luck, maybe someone more knowledgeable can help you.
cheers!

[asoir]

Yeah, particularly with the computer age, it's pretty hard.
I know the Che Guevara image is an important one...

[jackw]

Thanks guys, appreciate the help, I've not looked at either of those yet, might be quite interesting!

Also Brendan N by iconic I don't mean icon based (sorry I used iconic for lack of a better word) :D

[Ilaekae]

My best guess is that the images you're looking for post-computer are mostly going to be pseudo-mythic and in the entertainment industries. Star Wars, Star Trek, games, "The Anti-Hero/Action Hero" (pick one...), and other stuff like that. A lot of this exists because computers (not just our own little PCs) enable us to actually create what was once referred to as pure fantasy--ironic, since most of that iconography is pre-industrial. Exceptions would be the NASA bunch, and continuations of the Che/Mao personality mythos with different faces--Reagan, bin Laden, Solidarity (Poland), and the Racial/Religious/Political extremists of the recent and current eras.