From pre-industrial printing presses and medieval typography to computer graphics and avant-garde stylistic developments, a wealth of entries elucidate technical terms and detail movements, media, advertising, corporate identity, posters, packaging, and magazine and book design, placing graphic design in the wider context of the history of fine art and illustration. The personalities, motivations and achievements of all the most innovative figures in the field are fully outlined, including the leading exponents of contemporary graphic design. The illustrations give a stunning visual record, while the text incorporates extensive cross-referencing, full bibliography and a chronological chart outlining the relationship between movements, technology and designers. 445 illus., 59 in color