Week 4 - Modern American Movement

The Modern American Movement

George Salter's Book Design

The very idea of the modern movement was not so easily accepted by the public of America in 1913, as traditional illustration was still big through the world of design.

It was not until the modern movement was then introduced through typography that concept of this movement was then beginning to become accepted. Designers and typographers began to realize the “functionality and functionalism” of these ideas.

As people from overseas then started coming to America, new ideas came into place and were introduced. In the 1930’s, cultural leaders which included graphic designers brought along their ideas and helped introduce these changes to American design through their various works.

It was around the 1930’s where poster art designs were then created by sculptors and painters who joined unemployed designers and illustrators and created poster designs that would involve the approach of typography. Silk screening was introduced and with the influence of Bauhaus modern movement, it would juxtapose with the traditional illustration that was popular with the American mass media graphics.

While the war went on, design found a way to create movement through the use of propaganda during the years of war.  It was in 1941, where the federal government issued propaganda production posters, with Carlu’s famous poster “American’s answer! Production!” It’s simplistic, minimalism brought attention and impact.

The modernist movement kept spreading, especially with the push of major graphic designers. Through the use of film, magazines, infographics and continues to develop with its style and use till today.

What I find most interesting is that fact that, very American modern movement did not come to the means by just the American culture all on its own but was heavily influence by different culture by immigrants overseas. It has taken on such impact on the American lifestyle and culture with such drastic change compared to their earlier works of the Art Deco, Art Noveau period where beautiful organic curvature were so dominant. The change from the Victorian illustration to mimimalism and shown growth and depth to the American culture.