People have always been drawn to expressing themselves through design. Think of the Chauvet Cave drawings done in 30,000 B.C. or the Book of the Dead 's illustrations of gods and their rituals.
But the term "graphic design" wasn't used until 1922, and widespread adoption of the phrase didn't find its way into popular lexicon until after World War II. It was around this type that The Bauhaus School was founded, providing students with a formal education program with an emphasis in colors, materials, and construction. This is also where the idea of "form follows function" was solidified, a theory still relevant in an age when digital projects require that functionality and ease of use take precedence over aesthetics.
The history of design is inextricably linked to both culture and technological advancements, a point made clear by this infographic from Creative Market. Learn more about the history of visual communication in the image below.