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Meggs' History of Graphic Design 6th Edition, Kindle Edition

4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 799 ratings

The bestselling graphic design reference, updated for the digital age

Meggs' History of Graphic Design is the industry's unparalleled, award-winning reference. With over 1,400 high-quality images throughout, this visually stunning text guides you through a saga of artistic innovators, breakthrough technologies, and groundbreaking developments that define the graphic design field. The initial publication of this book was heralded as a publishing landmark, and author Philip B. Meggs is credited with significantly shaping the academic field of graphic design.

Meggs presents compelling, comprehensive information enclosed in an exquisite visual format. The text includes classic topics such as the invention of writing and alphabets, the origins of printing and typography, and the advent of postmodern design. This new sixth edition has also been updated to provide:

  • The latest key developments in web, multimedia, and interactive design
  • Expanded coverage of design in Asia and the Middle East
  • Emerging design trends and technologies
  • Timelines framed in a broader historical context to help you better understand the evolution of contemporary graphic design
  • Extensive ancillary materials including an instructor's manual, expanded image identification banks, flashcards, and quizzes

You can't master a field without knowing the history. Meggs' History of Graphic Design presents an all-inclusive, visually spectacular arrangement of graphic design knowledge for students and professionals. Learn the milestones, developments, and pioneers of the trade so that you can shape the future. 

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Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

Meggs' History of Graphic Design pioneered the coupling of the words "graphic design" and "history" by developing an original narrative tracing the progression of a field originating with the development of writing and heading into the digital age. That was in 1983, and now this Sixth Edition continues the gold-standard tradition of authoritative coverage for designers in the digital age.

This unrivaled, comprehensive, and award-winning reference tool on graphic design systematically reveals the complete story of visual innovators, groundbreaking technologies, and major developments leading up to the current state of the field. Updated and expanded, this robust new edition immortalizes the cutting-edge accomplishments of designers working in the digital twenty-first century and includes more than 100 brand-new illustrations to inform and inspire designers at every level of experience. More than a showcase of artwork, this inspiring reference gives you an intimate look at how industry-moving designers:

  • Took advantage of the growth and increased quality of design education to rise up and find new ways of applying time-honored design theories and methods to solve new visual challenges
  • Extended their profession with self-initiated fine-arts experimentation that brought a distinctive voice to the global dialogue in a era of explosive change
  • Broadened their creative palette with digital technologies that offered unprecedented ways to manipulate color, form, space, and imagery and then share the expression with the world through film, television, and the Internet

Like its predecessors, Meggs' History of Graphic Design, Sixth Edition will quickly establish itself as a most-consulted volume on the bookshelves of professionals, students, and anyone who works with or loves graphic design.

From the Back Cover

The bestselling graphic design reference updated for the digital age

Meggs' History of Graphic Design presents an all-inclusive, visually spectacular account of the people, events, and signal creations that have shaped the field of graphic design. This brilliantly imagined new Sixth Edition gives historical context to the latest trends and technologies overtaking the graphic design landscape, including developments in web, multimedia, and interactive design.

Packed with a wealth of material for inspiration and emulation, including more than 1,500 eye-catching images, this new edition unfolds as a who's-who of luminaries in the field from the early pioneers to the latest visionaries. See the evolution of graphic design from cave paintings, to the development of typography, to the emergence of American modernism, and beyond, as this visually engaging edition provides:

  • A complete and up-to-date examination of design movements in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia
  • A revealing look at the thinking and achievements that led to today's emerging design trends and technologies
  • Convenient timelines that frame the history of graphic design within the broader context of world events

The first step to mastering a profession is becoming intimately familiar with its past, and Meggs' History of Graphic Design, Sixth Edition puts it all there for you to enjoy.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B01FTB24EE
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Wiley; 6th edition (May 16, 2016)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 16, 2016
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 47772 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 2411 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 799 ratings

About the author

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Robert Powell
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Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
799 global ratings
Rental readable, but cover in poor condition
5 Stars
Rental readable, but cover in poor condition
The book is an interesting read so far and I am happy with the price I paid to rent the book for the semester. I was surprised to see how worn the cover was when the book arrived yesterday. The covers are beginning to separate from the spine. I'm worried Amazon won't take the book back when I'm done. I'm leaving this review with photos to prove it came to me this way.
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Top reviews from the United States

Reviewed in the United States on December 2, 2023
"Meggs' History of Graphic Design" is nothing short of a masterpiece in the realm of design literature. It was helpful to me during all 4 years of my BFA in Graphic Design education and now 6 years later I still find myself referencing it on the daily. (The fact that it is a beautiful coffee table book does not hurt, haha)

Comprehensive and Insightful:
The depth of historical insight presented in this book is truly commendable. Meggs and Purvis guide readers through the annals of graphic design with a meticulous and comprehensive approach, making it an invaluable resource for students, professionals, and enthusiasts alike. The authors seamlessly weave together historical narratives, cultural influences, and artistic movements, offering a holistic understanding of the field's evolution.

Rich Visual Content and Thoughtful Organization:
The inclusion of a plethora of visual examples, illustrations, and design artifacts enhances the learning experience and makes it a great source of inspiration and reference book in my daily design practice. The book's structure is thoughtfully organized, making it easy to navigate through different periods and movements.
Reviewed in the United States on February 24, 2021
This is the first textbook I actually bought AFTER being forced to read it for a class. 3/4 of the book is wonderful, full of great information and insights, and an absolute ton of great reference material for artists/designers. It will help you recognize different design periods with accuracy, and can be of great assistance when dating just about any product and understand the influences and impacts of different artists and designs on communication arts - as well as helping you make far more effective, practical designs.

That part of the book is written by the original author, Megg.

The author that took over since his death is horrendous, and pretty much ruins the end of the textbook with what feels like a complete disconnect to the subject matter. I would literally ignore the rest of the book once you start noticing the tone and voice of the writing change dramatically. Just look at the pictures there - that's about the best value in that part.
3 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on June 27, 2022
This book is a MUST for Graphic Designers (in my opinion.) Recently, an incredible young woman I was mentoring graduated with her degree — this book was the perfect gift. It's not digital - it's a hard copy, which is something a true graphic designer can appreciate.
My copy is an older edition, but remains a powerful resource.
I truly can't recommend this book enough.
Reviewed in the United States on November 1, 2018
The book is nicely printed and feels nice to read. All the pictures are high quality, as is the paper. It's a lot more sleek than a lot of text books I've owned.
my only complaint is that your fingerprints just get EVERYWHERE. The paper (especially the black paper) tends to show fingerprints no matter what you do, and when you're holding the book to read it, it ends up making your nice pristine pages look kinda gross.

But eh, I only got this for a class. It's just not great for the next person that'll have it.
Reviewed in the United States on October 10, 2023
My daughter loves this book for her college course
Reviewed in the United States on August 7, 2022
The book is an interesting read so far and I am happy with the price I paid to rent the book for the semester. I was surprised to see how worn the cover was when the book arrived yesterday. The covers are beginning to separate from the spine. I'm worried Amazon won't take the book back when I'm done. I'm leaving this review with photos to prove it came to me this way.
Customer image
5.0 out of 5 stars Rental readable, but cover in poor condition
Reviewed in the United States on August 7, 2022
The book is an interesting read so far and I am happy with the price I paid to rent the book for the semester. I was surprised to see how worn the cover was when the book arrived yesterday. The covers are beginning to separate from the spine. I'm worried Amazon won't take the book back when I'm done. I'm leaving this review with photos to prove it came to me this way.
Images in this review
Customer image Customer image
Customer imageCustomer image
Reviewed in the United States on December 18, 2017
Huge book. I rented it, so I was not able to use the code in the back to get access to more digital content. I kind of wish I had bought it so I didn't have to worry so much about highlighting and had access to digital content. Ton of information, most of it really good stuff but sometimes it really felt like the writers were gushing about the artists/designers and not being completely objective. At times, the writing is also very vague about why exactly something or someone was significant.
7 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on February 17, 2017
Highly recommended to any Design lovers to learn about the origins of Graphic design. I had to rent this updated edition, but I already have the 4th one which is slightly different. I love this complete book full of illustrations and very useful if you have a lack of inspiration. Yes we never cease to reinvent and re-adapt, re-adjust, re-create, but in a new context and with different tools to communicate visually, colorfully, concisely and intelligibly to different, but multicultural audiences all over the world. Yes, It does means we still have creativity! This book is really a good example of great design from the very beginning to the latest years of GD. Very interesting and a must to understand the most important concepts. Great!!!!
7 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
Ruy
5.0 out of 5 stars Ótima Livro!
Reviewed in Spain on September 26, 2023
Ótimo para consultar.
Goran Miletic
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book
Reviewed in Sweden on October 9, 2022
All recommendationa dor the excellwnt book!
Fabiana
5.0 out of 5 stars Incrível
Reviewed in Brazil on October 18, 2018
Ótimo conteúdo e referência histórica. uma pena não ter em português.
Sonali Dubey
5.0 out of 5 stars Sufficient
Reviewed in India on November 11, 2019
Everything needed was provided
One person found this helpful
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Liam Bennett
5.0 out of 5 stars So interesting and well ordered
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 14, 2019
So interesting, including general history. I'm not only learning about the industry I've been in for more than 20 years, but I'm enjoying the general historical knowledge it affords too.
4 people found this helpful
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