how has photography impacted graphic design? (critical study - brighton)

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Page 1: How has Photography Impacted Graphic Design? (Critical Study - Brighton)

How has Photography Impacted Graphic Design?

Photography is vital to graphic design because everyone has access to it. From the very first camera obscura, to the camera phone, all have been used to represent and illustrate. But what is its effect on other medias? Is the pencil becoming redundant in graphic design?

Graphic design is a use of visual representation, even using natural body language to sell and persuade. Photography, as a visual language, is where body language is used most effectively. A recent example of this is how the image of the Syrian refugee child was used (fig. 1). Through body language, the images become emotive, allowing users to apply more pressure to Governments on handling the refugee crisis. 1 This shows that this new photographic media is already impacting on real-world events through its use in graphic design.

Fig. 1 How the Daily Mail and Daily Mirror featured the picture of Aylan Kurdi. (2015)2

“The very “truthfulness” of the new medium encouraged its deliberate use as a means of propaganda.” (Berger, 1967, p.49-50)3 and therefore, graphic design. As technologies improved, the difference between photographic “truthfulness”, and photographic reality, widened. The Polaroid image seems like an instant snapshot, and during the 1960s, an estimated 3 billion photos were taken a year. However 55% of all the pictures taken, were of babies4, showing that photos were still seen as a special occasion. These “snapshots” may not be as representational as believed…

The low cost of digital, and the capacity to share photos more easily online, increases this photographic reality. People can create personal reflections of themselves through selfies, trying to inject the visual cues of luxury items into even basic selfie.

1 GREENSLADE, R. (2015) Will the image of a lifeless boy on a beach change the refugee debate? The Guardian. [Online] 3rd September. Available from: http://www.theguardian.com/media/greenslade/2015/sep/03/will-the-image-of-a-lifeless-boy-on-a-beach-change-the-refugee-debate. [Accessed: 29th October 2015].2 Figure 1. How the Daily Mail and Daily Mirror featured the picture of Aylan Kurdi. (2015) [Photograph; Scanned]. Available from: http://www.theguardian.com/media/greenslade/2015/sep/03/will-the-image-of-a-lifeless-boy-on-a-beach-change-the-refugee-debate. [Accessed: 29th October 2015].3 BERGER, J. (1967) Understanding a Photograph. 21st Ed. London: Penguin Group.4 BUZZFEED. (2012) How Many Photos Have Been Taken Ever?. [Online] Available from: http://www.buzzfeed.com/hunterschwarz/how-many-photos-have-been-taken-ever-6zgv#.uomWOVBQvq. [Accessed: 29th October 2015]

Page 2: How has Photography Impacted Graphic Design? (Critical Study - Brighton)

Fig. 3. 20155 Fig. 4. 20156

On the other hand, old medias, such as inks and paints, already reached this idea of fantasy in visual representation. Today, emojis and pictograms have developed into a separate language entirely. In many early film posters the old medias created the equal of the

photoshopped images used in today’s graphic design. But now that photography has reached this level, why do designers continue to use these old medias?

Art Spiegelman is an example of an artist who continues to use old medias in his work. The Underground Comix Movement which Spiegelman was a part of, provided an opportunity for illustrators to create designs about whatever subjects affected them7. Spiegelman, through the heavy use of symbolism and animal allegory is a great example of how far an illustrator can bend their world, with little more ink.

In conclusion, photography has a huge impact on graphic design. As such a new medium, it has already risen further than old medias. This year, over 2 trillion photos will be shared, 2 billion from just smartphone users.8 Photography is the ultimate tool of graphic design. As simultaneous producers and consumers, photography encourages people on both sides to invest in products, change their political opinions, and upgrade their lifestyle.

5 Figure 3. Barrowman, John (2015)[Photograph; Camera phone] Available from: http://www.whosay.com/status/johnbarrowman/1055388?wsref=tw&code=RFA9YPT. [Accessed: 29th October]6 Fig. 4. Forward-Hayter, Jennifer. (2015) [Photograph]. In possession of: The author: Dorset.7 LAMBIEK. (2010) UNDERGROUND COMIX AND THE UNDERGROUND PRESS [Online] Available from: https://www.lambiek.net/comics/underground.htm [Accessed on: 5th January 2016].8 EVANS, B. (2015) How many pictures? [Online] Available from: http://ben-evans.com/benedictevans/2015/8/19/how-many-pictures. [Accessed: 24th September 2015].