Eye Magazine

The audaciously titled The Graphic Design Bible lays down its own gauntlet by stating in its opening pages: ‘To tell the full story of graphic design requires reference to such disparate world events as the development of the alphabet some 4000 years ago, the work of ancient Roman and Greek stone carvers, the manuscripts of medieval scribes, the birth of the printing press, the advent of the Industrial Revolution and the modern consumer capitalism that followed it, all the way to the invention of the internet in the late twentieth century, and beyond into the unknown future.’ In what follows, Inglis accepts his own challenge and attempts to do just that in a mere 320 pages.

In five overarching chapters covering ‘History’, ‘Theory’, ‘Practice’, ‘Typography’ and ‘Mediums’, and a tick list of sub-sections within, each covering everything from ‘Graphic Roots’ to ‘Social Media’, The Graphic Design Bible presents itself more as a primer for the ‘full story’ of graphic design. Inglis admits that ‘All sections in this book could easily have an entire book dedicated to them – most of them already do.’ Such a classic tome as Philip Meggs’s A History of Graphic Design, and many other titles by writers such as Steven Heller, Rick Poynor, Teal Triggs and others, have typically more room for breadth and depth. A criticism that could be levelled at The Graphic Design Bible’s ambitious proposal is one of whether such a slim volume can do justice to such a broad and ever-evolving discipline.

This potential criticism is quickly dispelled, as Inglis manages the difficult task of being authoritative while deftly introducing the full range of topics and sub-categories that fit under the heading of graphic design. Everything you can think of is covered …

Nigel Ball, designer, educator, writer, Ipswich

Read the full version in Eye no. 106 vol. 27, 2023