How did graphic design in the computer world come about?

Computers have influenced graphic design ever since their invention. Graphic designers and artists began early experimentation with computers in the 1950s and today rely on highly sophisticated technology and techniques.

Before Computers

Before the invention of computers, designers used graph paper and drafting tools to create everything manually. Photo manipulation was possible in the darkroom, but it was tedious and required expertise to accomplish.

Pioneers

John Whitney is called the father of computer-generated graphics. He began experimenting with analog and digital computers---creating drawings, motion graphics and animations---as early as 1958 and continued until his death in 1996. William Fetter created computer drawings of humans for Boeing to illustrate cockpit positions. He coined the term "computer graphics" in 1960.

Hardware Innovations

In the 1960s, many new tools were introduced to facilitate inputting artwork to a computer. The first mouse was invented in 1963 by Doug Englebart. Drawing tablets were created, including the well-known RAND tablet. The first drawing tablet, however, was the Styalator tablet, created for handwriting recognition.

Growing Interest

Computer and Animation magazine held the first computer art contest in 1963. By 1970, the first GUI (graphic user interface) had been created, computer art was exhibited in art galleries and CGI was used in TV commercials.

Photoshop

In 1990, Adobe released Adobe Photoshop 1.0, a landmark in the movement of graphic design from paper to the computer screen. With the advent of highly intuitive, powerful photo manipulation and drawing programs, computer-generated graphic design took off.

Computer Graphic Design Today

Today, computers have taken over the field of graphic design. Programs have become user-friendly and hardware has become capable. Anyone, from a person with elementary computer knowledge to the expert designer with years of experience and training, can use a computer to create images and designs.

Source:

A Short History of Computer Graphics

Timeline of Computer Graphics and Animation