Part I. The prologue to graphic design : 1. The invention of writing -- 2. Alphabets -- 3. The Asian contribution -- 4. Illuminated manuscripts -- Part II. A graphic renaissance : 5. Printing comes to Europe -- 6. The German illustrated book -- 7. Renaissance graphic design -- 8. An epoch of typographic genius -- Part III. The bridge to the twentieth century : 9. Graphic design and the Industrial Revolution -- 10. The Arts and Crafts Movement and its heritage -- 11. Art Nouveau -- 12. The genesis of twentieth century design -- Part IV. The modernist era : 13. The influence of modern art -- 14. Pictorial modernism -- 15. A new language of form -- 16. The Bauhaus and the new typography -- The modern movement in America -- Part V. The age of information : 18. The international typographic style -- 19. The New York school -- 20. Corporate identity and visual systems -- 21. The conceptual image -- 22. National visions within a global dialogue -- 23. Postmodern design -- 24. The digital revolution and beyond.