society of experimental graphic design

• FlashLine Login
• Phone Directory
• Maps & Directions
• Get Involved Overview
• Fraternity & Sorority Life
• Flash Activities Board
• Student Organizations
• Undergraduate Student Government
• Leadership Overview
• Guiding Principles and Leadership Model
• Meet our Team
• Programs and Events
• Visit the Leadership Center
• Student Leader of the Month
• Leadership Library
• Student Leadership Consultants
• Student Organizations Overview
• Find a Student Organization
• Register a Student Organization
• Benefits and Resources
• KSU Kickoff
• Meet Our Staff
• Get Involved

Society for Experiential Graphic Design

SEGD is the global, multidisciplinary community of professionals who plan, design, and build experiences that connect people to place. SEGD is comprised of: graphic, information, media, interaction, exhibition and industrial designers, fabricators, architects, technology integrators, brand strategists, students, wayfinding specialists, teachers, and others who have a hand in shaping content-rich, experiential spaces.

• Academic/Professional

Campus Location

Street address, mailing address.

• 330-672-3000
• [email protected]
• Kent State Kent Campus - facebook
• Kent State Kent Campus - X
• Kent State Kent Campus - youtube
• Kent State Kent Campus - instagram
• Kent State Kent Campus - linkedin
• Kent State Kent Campus - snapchat
• Accessibility
• Annual Security Reports
• Emergency Information
• For Our Alumni
• For the Media
• Health Services
• Jobs & Employment
• Privacy Statement
• HEERF CARES/CRRSAA/ARP Act Reporting and Disclosure
• Website Feedback

UW–Madison’s Ahn wins Educator Award from Society of Experimental Graphic Design

UW–Madison’s Yeohyun Ahn, an assistant professor of graphic design in the School of Education’s  Art Department , is the recipient of the 2022 Educator Award from the Society of Experimental Graphic Design (SEGD).

The SEGD Educator Award recognizes academic members who have demonstrated the cultivation and practice of design across the organization’s practice areas, including interaction design, exhibition design, creative technology, installation, and public projects.

A blog post announcing the 2022 award winners notes that Ahn “consistently pushes for inclusivity and diversity in graphic design education” and “investigates academic marginality in the field,” through her work on projects including “Social Homelessness on U.S. Campuses” and “Design for Belonging.”

Read more at the UW-Madison School of Education

Recent posts.

• Relentless Waves of Tormenting Memory by MFA Candidate Baran Ataei
• The University of Wisconsin-Madison Art Department is hiring! Apply now for our Art 508 Grader/Reader Position!
• Mystery to Me Presents: Douglas Rosenberg in Conversation with Doug Moe
• A Grey Area: 2nd & 3rd Year MFA Exhibition
• Visiting Artist Colloquium: Brian Adams
• Art Faculty Colloquium
• From the Chair
• Internships
• K-12 Art Teachers
• MFA Exhibitions
• Photography
• Printmaking
• SCGI 2022 Annual Conference
• Visiting Artist Colloquium

Privacy Overview

What is Experiential Graphic Design? 5 Must-See Examples

Adam has a background in Industrial Design and has been concepting and designing a myriad of sculpture and entertainment experiences at Bridgewater Studio for the past 7+ years. Outside of work, he's probably disc golfing.

Experiential graphic design is so much more than branding and logos, artwork, wayfinding , signs and displays. Modern experiential graphic design is experiential design . It’s a multi-disciplinary approach to building an environment that evokes emotions and tells a story. When brands employ successful experiential graphic design, they are connecting with their target audiences through spatial storytelling experiences.

Graphic design is a part of every brand event, activation, or experience . Experiential graphic design contributes to how people perceive and interact with a space. These two-dimensional design elements contribute to the environmental design of a space, narrating it and orchestrating its use by visitors and guests. 

In this article, learn how the best brands use experiential graphic design to give purpose to built environments and create meaningful interactions with the people who pass through and inhabit them.

What is experiential graphic design? 

Experiential graphic design is that part of experiential design that involves the selection and placement of two-dimensional visual elements, such as signs, artwork and murals, or other displays in a built environment. Through placement, color selection, typography and other design choices, experiential graphic designers create 2D elements that integrate with, and enhance, the overall effect of a place. 

Experiential graphic design is sometimes called environmental graphic design because its aim is to purposefully manage how people who enter a defined indoor or outdoor space experience that built environment. In fact, experiential graphic design is a subset of environmental design. 

Environmental design is the process of planning and shaping a space to achieve a specific goal, elicit a response, inspire a feeling, or convey a message through design elements. 

Both environmental design, which encompasses everything from structural elements to lighting and sounds choices, and experiential graphic design support the execution of experiential design.

What does this all mean in practice? 

Spaces planned without intentionality can be bland, unmemorable and fail to support desired objectives. Experiential design creates spaces in which every component is selected to support a unique, unified and memorable message. Considering the experiential impact of a space’s 2D elements when planning a space maximizes its potential to communicate, guide, serve and delight visitors.

Where are the principles of experiential graphic design applied? 

The principles of experiential graphic design should be applied whenever an interior designer, architect, brand manager, event planner, exhibition designer—or anyone else—plans a space that includes wall decor, signs, or other two-dimensional visual elements. 

A few of the places you’ll find experiential graphic design include:

• Corporate offices and other workspaces 
• Public buildings and outdoor spaces
• Public and private art installations or exhibitions
• Retail stores, malls, and entertainment centers
• Location-based entertainment venues
• Education centers
• City-wide conferences or events
• Public and private mixed-use facilities
• Branded events and activations

As more people look to brands to provide interactive, in-person experiences, this latter category deserves special attention. 

How experiential graphic design makes brand experiences memorable 

Experiential graphic design is critical for companies seeking to raise awareness and attract people to their brand through permanent installations or brand activations . What we see affects how we feel. Signs, decor, color, and all the other 2D elements within the space help set the mood, express the brand’s values and build emotional connections with consumers.

Functional two-dimensional visual elements also contribute to linking brands with positive experiences. Wayfinding signs ensure people don’t get lost or miss out on anything. QR codes and graphics, including branded URLs, connect offline events and experiences to the brand’s online properties and promotions. Thematic displays provide photo opportunities that expand the reach of local in-person events to audiences on social media.  

Five examples of brands using experiential graphic design to wow audiences

Slack put its brand personality on display at SXSW with an interactive environment that included plenty of photo opportunities and fun for fans of the communication app. Its colorful outdoor lounge featured graphics displaying business-casual emojis and witty phrases along with the brand’s iconic logo. 

This brand activation gave SXSW attendees a physical place to relax, unwind, and communicate much like the Slack app does in the virtual world. 

Same-day delivery company Shipt asked customers what they needed to prepare for the back-to-school season, then used a combination of 2D graphics and 3D pieces to display the results on its Shipt “Back to School Bus.”

Using 2D elements enabled the brand to pack a lot of information into a narrow space. The bright, primary colors of the design stay true to Shipt’s style and coordinate with its other online and offline promotions. 

Guests can “roll that beautiful bean footage” at The Bush's Beans Visitor Center Museum , posing in front of the branded step and repeat wall like bean celebrities (Duke the dog not included). 

Experiential graphic design elements include a colorful US map and history wall sharing the brand’s story and a larger-than-life 3D bean can covered in graphics to make it look like the real thing.

4. Reddit’s Cannes Lions recent experience puts the interactive writing on the wall. Reddit brought its fun, irreverent style to Cannes Lions with an inviting and intriguing Reddit Explorers Club . The clubhouse was decked out with the brand’s distinctive orange color and 2D and 3D representations of its one-of-a-kind mascot.  Real Redditor posts were on display inside while the exterior featured an interactive screen where passersby could upvote or downvote the displayed comments.  5. Chicago Children’s Museum inspires children to create under the watchful eyes of Flyboy.  The Chicago Children’s Museum’s Art Studio is a colorful, interactive, inclusive space designed to delight children and inspire them to explore their creativity. In keeping with that theme, artist Hebru Brantly’s Flyboy watches over art explorers from a large mural.

Build an engaging, memorable experience with graphics that make a statement

The best experiential graphic design is intentional in purpose and thoughtful in preparation. These design elements contribute to the creation of coordinated, experiential spaces that make a positive impression on the people who visit and occupy them. With the help of an experienced, full-service experiential graphic design partner , your brand can create spaces that have a powerful, positive effect. 

Learn how an experiential graphic design company can provide the unified design, production, and strategy that sets truly innovative experiences apart by scheduling an no-obligation strategy session with Bridgewater Studio today. Our experienced team can expertly guide your project from conception to completion. 

Have an experience in mind?

Explore examples.

View our project portfolio for ideas, inspiration, and helpful information.

Ballpark Your Budget

Use our Experience Estimator to see how much your project might cost.

Get a Free Plan

Schedule a free Strategy Session for a complete project evaluation.

Join the community.

We’re not just creating the future of immersive experiences. We’re sharing the inside scoop with experiential industry leaders like you every week.

©2024 Bridgewater Studio. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy

UC Davis Arts

Arts homepage, arts calendar, socials and email news, staff directory.

• Student & Alumni News
• Job Openings
• Exhibitions
• Alberini (Past Lectures)
• Peer Advisors
• Grad Students
• Emeriti Faculty
• MFA Graduates
• Undergraduates
• Course Descriptions
• Summer Sessions
• Design Study Abroad
• Exhibition Design
• Fashion Design
• History and Theory of Design
• Interactive Design
• Interior Architecture
• Lighting Design
• Product Design
• Textiles Design
• Visual Communications Design
• Application Links
• Links for Current Students
• Savageau Award
• MFA Exhibition Catalogs
• Careers & Competitions
• Clubs & Activities
• Reference Material
• Cruess Hall Room List
• Class Reserves
• Lighting Center
• Prototyping Lab
• Student Computer Recommendations
• Current Exhibitions
• Stabb Design Collection
• Support the Museum

Professor chairs Society of Experiential Graphic Design conference

Tim McNeil Professor of Design

The SEGD Educator Award recognizes academic members who have demonstrated the cultivation and practice of design across the organization’s practice areas, including interaction design, exhibition design, creative technology, installation, and public projects.

A blog post announcing the 2022 award winners notes that Ahn “consistently pushes for inclusivity and diversity in graphic design education” and “investigates academic marginality in the field,” through her work on projects including “Social Homelessness on U.S. Campuses” and “Design for Belonging.”

The announcement also notes that Ahn presented her work on this topic in a traveling exhibition titled “Evolving Graphic Design,” which features design educators from across the U.S. and celebrates inclusivity in design practices. Additionally, Ahn leads UW–Madison’s design studies area and develops new courses in experiential graphic design.

Pin It on Pinterest

1970s Graphic Design: Trends, Designers, and Creativity

The 1970s – a decade of social change and creative experimentation that ushered in a new era of graphic design . As the revolutionary counterculture of the 1960s gave way to a more uncertain time, graphic designers responded with bold, psychedelic styles that captured the freewheeling spirit of the times.

Musicians like David Bowie and Pink Floyd were pushing the boundaries of rock, and their surreal, otherworldly album covers provided graphic inspiration. Designers embraced vivid colour palettes , flowing organic shapes, and optical illusions. Psychedelic posters advertised concerts and events with fantastical artwork that echoed the trippy light shows of the venues. Avant-garde typography broke free of strict modernist conventions with wiggly, hand-drawn letters or futuristic, space-age fonts .

Fashion also took a wild turn, from flared jeans and retro prints to glittery disco flair. Graphic designers imprinted t-shirt designs with iron-on transfers, adding a new canvas for self-expression. As the punk rock movement gained momentum, ransom-note collages and gritty zines spread the anti-establishment message through bold DIY graphics.

Throughout the decade, print design, album covers, and poster art all served as creative outlets for designers to capture the nonconformist energy of the times. The postmodernist and New Wave styles pioneered in the 1970s would continue reverberating through graphic design. The era still stands as a testament to the power of innovative graphics to reflect and shape the culture of an age.

Join us as we take a vibrant visual journey back to the 1970s – a defining time for graphic arts and creative rebellion. We'll explore the people, styles, and culture that made this decade so visionary in the design world.

Table of Contents

A Time of Change

The 1970s was a transformative decade of social change and activism in the United States. The civil rights movement, which began in the 1950s, continued to fight for racial equality and justice. Leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. and groups like the Black Panthers pushed for reforms to combat institutional racism against African Americans. The women's liberation movement also gained momentum as women fought against gender discrimination and sought equal rights and opportunities.

These movements sparked broader questions about identity, power structures, and human rights. Activists challenged traditional social norms and values, speaking out against war, environmental destruction, and other injustices. “Power to the people” became a rallying cry.

Designers responded to this cultural upheaval, using graphic design as a tool for activism and expression. Posters, logos, illustrations, and other designs gave visual form to the ideas fueling these social movements. For example, the iconic “Black Power” fist symbol, designed in 1967 by Emory Douglas for The Black Panther newspaper, became a unifying emblem of black identity and self-determination. Its graphic simplicity and unequivocal message embodied the spirit of the civil rights movement.

Other designs, like Milton Glaser's psychedelic Bob Dylan poster or Sister Corita Kent's vibrant serigraphs containing social commentary, pushed boundaries in form and content. These experimental designs reflected countercultural perspectives. Music festivals like Woodstock, with specially designed posters and logos, also became visual touchpoints of the anti-establishment subculture.

Throughout the 1970s, design mirrored a rapidly changing society and actively shaped the era's culture and politics. The bold, aggressive aesthetics in much activist graphic design starkly contrasted with the polished advertising imagery of the 1960s. For many designers, their work became an act of protest, challenging traditional hierarchies and giving voice to marginalised groups through impactful visual communication.

Groovy Tunes and Psychedelic Art

Music was a major cultural force in the 1970s, shaping fashion, art, and politics. New genres like psychedelic rock, disco, and funk took centre stage, each with its distinct sound and visual aesthetic.

Psychedelic and surrealist influences entered graphic design, creating visually arresting, mind-bending album covers and posters. Bands like Pink Floyd, The Grateful Dead, and The Rolling Stones worked with designers to create surreal landscapes filled with vivid colours, optical illusions, and fantastical imagery that mirrored the experimental, hallucinogenic sound of the music.

The swirling, tie-dyed patterns and kaleidoscopic colours of psychedelic art were bold departures from minimalist modernism and reflected the era's spirit of radical self-expression and defiance of convention. Similarly, the stylised illustrations and sexualised imagery of disco album covers captured the scene's emphasis on freedom, dancing, and sexuality.

These graphic design innovations paralleled developments in photography, fashion, and film. Figures like Annie Leibovitz expanded the creative possibilities of album cover photos through inventive concepts and techniques. Style absorbed psychedelic influences through bright colours and wild prints, while movies like 2001: A Space Odyssey delivered stunning visual effects.

Overall, graphic design in the 1970s fused art, music, and culture into iconic images that gave visual identity to the sounds and ethos of an eclectic, transformative decade. The era's bold aesthetic continues to influence artists and designers today.

Fashion Forward

The fashion trends of the 1970s made a significant impact on culture and design. Bell bottoms, platform shoes, and bold, geometric patterns defined the decade's fashion aesthetic. Designers embraced these daring styles, integrating them into their creations.

The bell bottoms of the 1970s originated from a nautical design but took on an exaggerated flare. Paired with platform shoes, they created an eye-catching silhouette. Graphic, modular patterns in vibrant colours also dominated the era's aesthetic. Psychedelic prints and optical illusions reflected the influence of the 1960s counterculture.

Fashion designers drew inspiration from these bold looks, incorporating them into their collections. Diane von Fürstenberg's iconic wrap dress epitomised 1970s style with vibrant prints and figure-flattering silhouettes. Its enormous popularity cemented the graphic, mod look in mainstream fashion. Other designers like Halston and Yves Saint Laurent also embraced bold colours, prints and shapes in defining 70s style.

The fashion trends of the 1970s went on to broadly influence design in other areas. Graphic designers incorporated mod prints, colours and shapes into posters, album covers and other works. The decade's aesthetic can still be seen in retro-inspired designs today. Though bell bottoms and platform shoes may no longer dominate the runway, the bold, expressive spirit of 1970s style continues to impact modern fashion and design .

Characteristics of 1970s Graphic Design

The 1970s was a pivotal decade that shaped graphic design in countless ways. From bold colour palettes to surreal imagery, the visual culture of the 70s continues to captivate and inspire designers today. Let's explore some defining characteristics that made 1970s design so groundbreaking.

Vibrant, Psychedelic Colour Palettes

Colour was used creatively and psychologically in the 70s graphic design. Earthy tones like burnt orange and avocado green conveyed warmth and nostalgia. Metallic disco palettes captured the era's glitz and glam. Bright neons reflected psychedelic experimentation. These vivid hues starkly contrasted the muted palettes of previous decades.

Colour also took on a deeper meaning. Burnt orange elicited feelings of cosiness and nostalgia for simpler times. Disco-era metallics mirrored the glittering escapism of the dance floor. Psychologists believe colour can impact moods and emotions, so 1970s designers harnessed this power through strategic colour choices.

Surreal, Psychedelic Art Influences

The mind-altering aesthetic of psychedelic art heavily influenced graphic design in the 70s. Surrealism also remained prominent, with designers embracing fantastical imagery. Bright patterns and optical illusions that played with perception were common. These trippy graphics rejected structure and traditional design rules.

Artists like Heinz Edelmann, whose surreal illustrations defined the Beatles' Yellow Submarine, impacted design. Salvador Dalí also inspired dreamlike visuals and warped perspectives. This surreal approach aligned with the era's radical experimentation and personal expression spirit.

Handcrafted, DIY Typography

The 70s saw a significant shift towards handcrafted custom typography. Designers rebelled against previous eras' stiff, uniform fonts by hand-drawing display type and logos. This artisanal approach aligned with counterculture DIY values and emphasised individuality.

Whimsical hand-lettering with uneven baselines, thick and thin strokes, and embellishments became popular. Calligraphy and script fonts also provided a more freeform alternative to traditional serif and sans-serif typefaces. Overall, typography took on a more personal, retro feel compared to the sleek minimalism of later decades.

New Printing Technology and Techniques

Advances in offset printing and phototypesetting expanded the graphic possibilities of the 70s. Phototypesetting allowed designers to experiment with various typefaces, angles, and scales. Offset printing enabled more detailed and intricate designs with layered elements and effects.

These new techniques opened the door to more photorealistic and complex designs. Richly detailed illustrations, muted duotones, and enhanced colour gradients could be reproduced precisely. Overall, printing upgrades enabled designers to realise their visions without technical limitations fully.

Notable Designers of the 1970s

Behind every iconic era of design, some visionary designers lead the way. Let's meet some of the creative minds who shaped 1970s graphic design.

Milton Glaser: The Man Behind the “I ♥ NY” Logo

Milton Glaser is a legendary graphic designer whose creativity and vision have left an indelible mark on the design world. He is perhaps best known for creating the iconic “I ♥ NY” logo in 1977, which has since become a globally recognised symbol of New York City.

The genesis of this now-ubiquitous logo is humbler than one might imagine. It was created as part of a pro bono marketing campaign commissioned by New York's city government to help promote tourism and boost morale in a city plagued by crime, grime, and economic turmoil in the 1970s.

Glaser's brilliantly simple design featured a vibrant red heart symbol and chunky lettering spelling “NY.” The message was clear – New York is the city of love, the heart of America, a place worthy of affection despite its flaws. His ability to distil the spirit of a diverse, complex city into a visual haiku spoke to Glaser's talents as a designer and communicator.

• Hardcover Book
• Heller, Steven (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 288 Pages – 03/29/2023 (Publication Date) – The Monacelli Press (Publisher)

Over the decades, the “I ♥ NY” logo transcended its original purpose, evolving into a globally recognised symbol of New York City. The logo's ubiquity on t-shirts , hats, posters, and more reflects Glaser's design's timeless, universal appeal. His use of colour, composition, symbolism, and typography combined to create an image that immediately conveys meaning and emotion to viewers worldwide.

Beyond the “I ♥ NY” logo, Glaser's work in the 1960s and 70s also impacted graphic design. He utilised bold colours, inventive illustrations, and elements of psychedelia to create posters, magazine covers, and advertising campaigns that captured the visual zeitgeist of the era.

Glaser proved that effective design requires technical skill, imagination, storytelling, and an understanding human nature. His legacy demonstrates the power of graphic design to distil complex ideas into simple, evocative images that resonate across cultures and generations. Over four decades after its creation, few logos or graphic designs have proven as timeless and universally beloved as Glaser's ode to New York City. His work will continue inspiring designers and delighting audiences for many years.

Paula Scher: Breaking Boundaries with Postmodernism

Paula Scher has had an immense influence as a trailblazer in the postmodern graphic design movement. Her experimental and rule-breaking approach fundamentally challenged the status quo of graphic design in the late 20th century.

Scher catapulted onto the design scene in the 1970s and 80s through her innovative work at CBS Records and other major corporations. She began bucking modernist traditions of order and simplicity by incorporating irreverent visual puns, historical references, and absurd juxtapositions into her designs. Her maximalist style was bold, complex, and unapologetically chaotic at times.

Scher's designs for the Public Theater in New York are some of her most iconic works, featuring vivid colours, unconventional textures, and visual plays on words that subverted expectations. Her Swatch poster series exemplified her postmodernist spirit, as she remixed and collaged disparate artistic and vernacular elements into surreal pop art pieces.

• Scher, Paula (Author)
• 256 Pages – 09/15/2020 (Publication Date) – Princeton Architectural Press (Publisher)

As one of the chief pioneers of the postmodern style, Scher permitted designers to view their work through an avant-garde lens. Her audacious ideas and “rules-free” approach to design inspired designers to think outside the box and use imagery in new, provocative ways. She challenged the notion that design always had to be clean, orderly and conform to modernist ideals.

Scher's trailblazing work opened the doors for more postmodern designers like David Carson , who upended conventions with his grungy, chaotic designs. She paved the way for a more iconoclastic, irreverent sensibility, emphasising visual wit, historical reference, and deconstructed layouts. Scher proved that pushing boundaries and breaking rules could yield innovative design solutions that engage audiences unexpectedly. Her impact forever changed graphic design's visual vocabulary.

Peter Saville: Revolutionising Album Art

Peter Saville is a legendary graphic designer who revolutionised album cover art in the 1970s. His innovative designs for bands like Joy Division and New Order didn't just complement the music – they helped define the visual identity of entire music scenes.

When Saville first started designing album covers, most followed a standard format – just a photo of the band members or a literal depiction of the album title. Saville broke the mould completely, using complex and sometimes cryptic imagery that perfectly encapsulated the feeling of the music within. For example, his stark cover for Joy Division's Unknown Pleasures shows pulsar waves from a radio telescope. This cold, scientific image matches the dark, reflective mood of the post-punk album.

• 380 Pages – 10/25/2022 (Publication Date) – Soul Jazz Records (Publisher)

Saville's album art didn't just represent the music – it also came to represent an entire cultural movement. His covers for Factory Records bands like Joy Division and New Order visually defined the Manchester post-punk scene. With its elaborate colour-coded maze, the famous cover of New Order's Power, Corruption, and Lies inspired countless imitators seeking to capture a similar aesthetic.

Many wondered if bold cover art would still matter as album art shifted away from vinyl and CDs towards digital catalogues. But Saville has continued to produce iconic designs, from Pulp's compilation album to projects with contemporary bands like Manic Street Preachers. Saville's album covers are instantly recognisable triumphs of graphic design that forever changed how albums could be represented visually. Nearly 50 years since his first commissions, Saville's revolutionary album artwork remains influential and impactful.

The Enduring Influence of 1970s Graphic Design

Nostalgia is a powerful force in today's culture, and many modern brands are tapping into the visual language of the 1970s to evoke a sense of nostalgia and connection to the past in their audience. From retro-inspired logos and fonts to earth-toned colour palettes and natural textures, 1970s design elements are making a significant comeback.

Branding Nostalgia Through Retro Design

Major brands are bringing back 1970s-era logos, packaging, and advertising styles to appeal to consumers who fondly remember these designs from their youth. PepsiCo recently reintroduced its 1970s logo and slogans for limited-edition packaging, which sparked nostalgia among Gen X consumers. Other brands like Carl's Jr. have featured 1970s celebrities in ads or created retro-style commercials that transport viewers back to the decade. This nostalgic branding establishes an emotional connection with consumers by reminding them of beloved childhood brands.

1970s Homage in Pop Culture Visual Media

If you're a fan of movies, TV shows, or music videos, you've likely noticed copious references to 1970s style and culture. Content creators often draw from the iconic fonts, colour palettes, fashion, and graphic imagery of the 1970s to evoke nostalgia or pay homage to the era's singular aesthetics.

Quentin Tarantino's recent film “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” beautifully captures the look and feel of 1970s Los Angeles with painstakingly recreated retro outfits, signage , and graphic props that fully immerse viewers in the era. Beyoncé's music videos feature disco-inspired sequences with earth tones and retro silhouettes celebrating 1970s style. This homage to the decade in pop culture helps keep its legacy alive.

Learning 1970s Design History & Techniques in the Digital Age

Today, Graphic design education recognises the importance of studying the field's evolution to inform current practices. Design schools ensure 1970s styles and techniques remain relevant by teaching them alongside modern digital design .

Courses at leading design schools like Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) offer in-depth studies of 1970s design history and principles. Students learn typography, colour palettes, illustration styles, and layout techniques integral to 1970s aesthetics that still influence graphic design today. This pedagogy preserves the rich design heritage of the 1970s while equipping students to evolve its principles in the digital age .

The 1970s revival in branding, pop culture, and academics proves the decade made a memorable and lasting impact on graphic design that continues to shape the field today. By keeping its legacy alive, we enrich design's future evolution.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What defines the colour palette of 1970s graphic design.

The 1970s were known for their vibrant and earthy colour schemes, with hues like burnt orange, avocado green, and harvest gold taking centre stage.

Who were some prominent graphic designers of the 1970s?

Notable designers from the 1970s include Milton Glaser, Paula Scher, and Peter Saville, each known for their unique contributions to the field.

How did technology influence graphic design in the 1970s?

Advancements in printing technology allowed for innovative design techniques, such as phototypesetting and offset printing.

What role did DIY culture play in 1970s graphic design?

DIY culture had a significant impact, leading to handcrafted typography and a rebellion against traditional design norms.

Are there any modern brands that draw inspiration from 1970s graphic design?

Many contemporary brands incorporate 1970s design elements to evoke nostalgia and appeal to a retro-loving audience.

The 1970s were indeed a remarkable and revolutionary decade for graphic design. A period of immense creativity, artistic experimentation, and influential innovation shaped the field indelibly. Vibrant, psychedelic colour palettes became ubiquitous as designers embraced a more radical and expressive aesthetic. Surrealism and retro-futurism provided endless inspiration for fantastical, dreamlike designs that captured the free spirit of the times. Visionaries like Saul Bass, Milton Glaser, and Muriel Cooper pushed the boundaries of print, motion, and multimedia design in new directions that still reverberate today. They explored early digital techniques, avant-garde typography, and cinematic approaches to image-making.

Moreover, the 1970s nurtured a dynamic design culture where numerous influential studios, publications, and collectives flourished. From Austin's Armadillo World Headquarters to studios like Pentagram and Chermayeff & Geismar, creative hubs catalysed bold new styles and philosophies. Magazines like Emigre disseminated cutting-edge ideas from the postmodern, deconstructionist design wing. This highly fertile period's radical thinking and formal experimentation would provide the foundations for digital-era design.

Indeed, the innovative spirit of the 1970s continues to inspire designers today. The decade's visual audacity, conceptual brilliance, and willingness to break conventions have become integral to contemporary graphic design identity. Its pioneers shaped the field's trajectory over the past half-century, proving that groundbreaking design maintains its power and relevance across generations. In sum, the 1970s forged an exuberant design legacy whose impacts reverberate through our visual culture.

Last update on 2024-09-04 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Stuart Crawford

Need help building your brand.

Let’s talk about your logo, branding or web development project today! Get in touch for a free quote.

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Trusted by businesses worldwide to create impactful and memorable brands.

At Inkbot Design, we understand the importance of brand identity in today's competitive marketplace. With our team of experienced designers and marketing professionals, we are dedicated to creating custom solutions that elevate your brand and leave a lasting impression on your target audience.

• Join for Free

Experimental Techniques for Graphic Design Solutions

A course by leopoldo leal , graphic designer.

Learn to experiment with graphic design processes and build on your resources for creating signature and commercial pieces

• Information

Experimental design offers everything you need to develop different ideas from a problem or brief, in a fun and effective way. In this online course, graphic designer Leopoldo Leal teaches you to explore experimental graphic processes to use in commercial or personal pieces.

By the end of the course, you'll have created a series of posters based on a brief by exploring graphic design materials, processes, and techniques to help you find surprising solutions to your creative projects.

What will you learn in this online course?

15 lessons & 14 downloads

• 99% positive reviews ( 68 )
• 2,642 students
• 15 lessons (1h 44m)
• 14 additional resources (2 files)
• Online and at your own pace
• Available on the app
• Audio: Portuguese
• Portuguese , Spanish , English , German , French , Italian , Polish , Dutch
• Level: Beginner
• Unlimited access forever

Recommended software for this course

What is this course's project?

Create a series of posters while exploring the exciting world of experimental design.

Projects by course students

By riveraypunto

By ebony_rc

By hellocreative

Who is this online course for?

Designers, design students, and anyone interested in visual design.

Requirements and materials

To take this course, you need a few basic materials for drawing and collage including a pencil, a pen, paper, glue, scissors, and a craft knife. If you prefer, you can work entirely digitally in Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop.

raphacaires88

Um curso rápido e direto que agregou muito no meu processo criativo.

View translation

Hide translation

jcperegrine

An inspiring course providing lots of methods for experimenting with graphic design to produce unconventional results.

carolinestudio

Un tutoriel a ne pas manquer. Des explications précises pour savoir développer un process de travail de recherche.

Anima a abrirse y salir de lo convencional, que se puede hacer buenos diseños comerciales también experimentando. Además, hace que uno se replantee qué es "experimentar" y aplicar un poco de metodología al proceso.

• More reviews

Leopoldo Leal A course by Leopoldo Leal

Leopoldo Leal is a graphic designer with a degree from the University of São Paulo's Architecture and Urban Planning Faculty who now works as a professor at Senac. As a designer, he's collaborated with agencies like Landor, Interbrand, FutureBrand, Gad’, and currently forms part of the team at Pharus Design.

His book Processo de criação em design gráfico: Pandemonium , won first place at the Museu da Casa Brasileira's Prêmio Design and was selected for The Type Directors Club (TDC66) as well as the 13th ADG Brasil Biennial, the 2020 Brasil Design Award, and the 2021 LAD Awards.

Introduction

Experimental design concepts.

• Experimental design
• Problem (briefing)
• Problem in copyright projects
• How to plan experiments in graphic design
• Introduction to exercise
• Explanation of the experiment
• developing the project
• How to evaluate your experiments
• End of exercise
• Don't underestimate a simple task

Producing experiments

• Other methods
• Register the process
• Including experimentation in project presentation

Final project

What to expect from a domestika course, learn at your own pace.

Enjoy learning from home without a set schedule and with an easy-to-follow method. You set your own pace.

Learn from the best professionals

Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.

Meet expert teachers

Each expert teaches what they do best, with clear guidelines, true passion, and professional insight in every lesson.

Certificates Plus

If you're a Plus member, get a custom certificate signed by your teacher for every course. Share it on your portfolio, social media, or wherever you like.

Get front-row seats

Videos of the highest quality, so you don't miss a single detail. With unlimited access, you can watch them as many times as you need to perfect your technique.

Share knowledge and ideas

Ask questions, request feedback, or offer solutions. Share your learning experience with other students in the community who are as passionate about creativity as you are.

Connect with a global creative community

The community is home to millions of people from around the world who are curious and passionate about exploring and expressing their creativity.

Watch professionally produced courses

Domestika curates its teacher roster and produces every course in-house to ensure a high-quality online learning experience.

Domestika's courses are online classes that provide you with the tools and skills you need to complete a specific project. Every step of the project combines video lessons with complementary instructional material, so you can learn by doing. Domestika's courses also allow you to share your own projects with the teacher and with other students, creating a dynamic course community.

All courses are 100% online, so once they're published, courses start and finish whenever you want. You set the pace of the class. You can go back to review what interests you most and skip what you already know, ask questions, answer questions, share your projects, and more.

The courses are divided into different units. Each one includes lessons, informational text, tasks, and practice exercises to help you carry out your project step by step, with additional complementary resources and downloads. You'll also have access to an exclusive forum where you can interact with the teacher and with other students, as well as share your work and your course project, creating a community around the course.

You can redeem the course you received by accessing the redeeming page and entering your gift code.

• Graphic Design

Courses you might be interested in

June 28, 2023

June 29, 2023, main schedule.

Breakout Session - Topic 1

Breakout Session - Topic 2

Niloufar Abdolmaleki

Experiential Graphic Designer, Researcher MFA in Design at University of California Davis

Yeohyun Ahn

Assistant Professor of Graphic Design and Interaction Design at University of Wisconsin-Madison

Joell Angel-Chumbley

Supervising Lead - EGD at City of Cincinnati, DOTE, Architecture + Urban Design

Craig Berger

Liaison at Fashion Institute of Technology

Aija Freimane

Design Researcher, Professor at TU Dublin School of Art and Design

Lauren Green

Typo-Graphic Designer, Researcher, MFA, Adjunct Professor at Kent State University

Hansa Hatrote

Junior Experiential Designer at Giant Spoon

Jenny Hsin-Yi Chang

Exhibit Designer at Deckel & Moneypenny

Angela Iarocci

Professor + Coordinator at Sheridan College

Cybelle Jones

CEO of SEGD

Nathan Lachenmyer

Partner at Sitara Systems

Owner at Tangram Design

Terry Londy

Assistant Professor-Interior Design, at Florida State University

Christina Lyons

Chair of Graduate Exhibition Design Program at Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT)

Tamara McLean

Graduate Teaching Assistant at University of Wisconsin-Madison

Professor of Design, Director of the Design Museum at UC Davis (Department of Design )

Studio Director of Exit Design

Loran Sanvido

Adjunct Instructor at University of Cincinnati (DAAP)

Brett Snyder

Principal at Cheng+Snyder

Nekita Thomas

Assistant Professor of Graphic Design at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Neeta Verma

Associate Professor, Visual Communication Design at University of Notre Dame

Michele Washington

Designer, researcher, strategist

Steven Webber

Associate Professor at Florida State University

2023 Virtual Academic Summit Registration

Register for the virtual SEGD Academic Summit, on Wednesday, June 28, and Thursday, June 29, 2023. If you are registering multiple attendees please be sure to enter all attendee information during the registration process.

Connect with 297 people attending this event

• Awards & Honors

Archana Shekara is a Professor of Graphic Design, Co-Director of Ethnic Studies Program, and Creative Director of Design Streak Studio, a research based social innovation lab focusing on human centered service design at Illinois State University. She is the Coordinator of the Graphic Design partnership with Wonsook Kim School of Art at Illinois State University and Tianhua College of Art + Design at Shanghai Normal University. Shekara has twenty-six years of professional experience designing for diverse industry clients. She uses design as a tool to build cross-cultural understanding, humility, acceptance, and respect. As a socio-cultural researcher, she has been investigating transnational identity by understanding racial equity through a brown lens and and creates cultural awareness using auto-ethnographic narratives. Shekara’s innovative teaching methodologies and research have been featured in peer reviewed national and international academic and professional publications, and conferences including Association Typographique Internationale (AtypI), Typography Day, Digitally Engaged Learning (DEL), MODE Summit, College Art Association (CAA), Society of Experiential Design (SEGD), Electronic Visualization and the Arts (EVA) London, Southeastern College Art Conference (SECAC), AIGA Design Educators Conference, and UCDA Design Educators Summit. She has reviewed several graphic design tenure and promotion dossiers from various universities, and conducts community building workshops based on diversity, equity, and inclusion. She has served as a graduate thesis advisor for Heron School of Art and Design at Indianapolis. She recently started the national South Asian American Design Educators Alliance to bring South Asian American perspectives into mainstream conversations in Design Shekara received an MFA in Graphic Design from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a BFA in Painting from the State University of New York in New Paltz. She joined the faculty at Illinois State as an Assistant Professor of Graphic Design in the fall of 2009. Shekara received tenure and promotion to Associate Professor of Graphic Design in 2015, and promotion to full Professor of Graphic Design in 2022. Area(s) of Specialization: Typography, Branding, Human/Equity-Centered Service Design, Publication Design, Packaging Design, Experience Design and Motion Graphics

Current Courses

340 .001 B.F.A. Senior Studio II

396 .001 Design Streak Studio

398 .001 Professional Practice: Internship In Design

323 .002 Typography

315 .001 Topics In Graphic Design

Teaching Interests & Areas

Human Centered Service Design, Cultural Identity and Heritage, Cross-Cultural Awareness, Diversity and Multiculturalism, Service Learning, Social Justice

Research Interests & Areas

Cultural Heritage, Diversity and Multiculturalism in the Classroom, Intersectionality, Transnational Identity, Racial Equity, Social Justice, Community Engagement

MFA Graphic Design

Bfa painting, drawing, outstanding woman in communications crystal award, decalog, june 2020, redbird impact magazine, the world after poster call, mlk champion award, redbird proud award, arts and culture grant, college service initiative award, the reggies, 12th annual academic excellence awards, conference proceeding, presentations, grants & contracts, university resources.