With technology becoming the primary method of communication, graphic design has become a modern day art form and – as with all art – is directly influenced by the culture and nationality of the people. Read the following examples on how graphic design differs from nation to nation.
Examples of how nationality influences graphic design
- South America – Many graphic design elements here are taken from the street art that is rampant throughout the nation. Stencil art and graffiti are very popular and thus responsible for the vibrant colours and soulful imagery.
- Japan – With Japan being a world leader in technology and contemporary culture, one will find their graphic design to be very urban and off-beat. They like to use neon colours and abstract imagery which is said to be influenced by the way Tokyo appears at night.
- Middle East – With a rich art culture that goes back thousands of years, their graphic design chooses to capitalise on the alluring mystery surrounding their nation through the use of strong colours, calligraphy and the repetition of patterns.
- China – After the wars and imperialism, China had to re-open itself to modern ideas and concepts. This has resulted in China’s graphic design elements being largely influenced by traditional Chinese art and architecture.
- Netherlands – With artists like van Gogh, Mondrian and Rembrandt in their history, Dutch graphic design tends to lean towards minimalism and individualism, portraying an image that states that less is more.
These are just a few examples to illustrate the influence of culture and history on a modern-day art form. Understanding history is vital to understanding the future and knowing the culture of the world could open your work up to a wide range of graphic design possibilities.
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