Graphic Design: An attempt at a definition
The Greek term grafistiki is a Greek rendering of the English term graphic design, coined in the 1920s by William Addison Dwiggins. He combined two words—one of Greek origin (from graphein, “to write”, and graphikos) and one of Latin origin (from disegno, “drawing/design”)—to describe a profession that had gradually taken shape in industrial societies and, until then, did not have a specific name.
It included those involved in the printing arts—especially advertising posters and print ads—as well as book design, illustration and page layout; likewise, the design and layout of newspapers and magazines; and typeface design. These practitioners were often referred to somewhat vaguely—perhaps even dismissively—as “commercial artists”.
The term graphic designer, which has described professionals in the field since then, does not translate smoothly into Greek. The literal equivalent “graphic design designer” is awkward, so Greek commonly uses the simpler—but less elegant—grafistas, which lacks the dignity of graphic designer. In any case, even if we used the first option, the word “designer” in modern Greek still does not fully capture what the English word designer implies.
A “designer” is not merely someone who draws lines on paper; it also includes the conception and creation of a functional product based on a complete plan.
The English word designer, derived from disegno (“design/drawing”), already acquired—at the early stages of the industrial era in England—the meaning that modern Greek would express closer to “planner” or “design professional”. Design is not simply a drawing on paper, but a comprehensive study. Interestingly, the word design with this meaning evolved within English itself and was later adopted untranslated by other European languages.ώτα στάδια της βιομηχανικής εποχής στην Αγγλία αποκτά τη σημασία που θα αποδίδαμε στα σημερινά ελληνικά με τη λέξη «μελετητής» και το design δεν είναι απλώς ένα σχέδιο στο χαρτί, αλλά μια ολοκληρωμένη μελέτη. Είναι μάλιστα ενδιαφέρον ότι η λέξη design με το νόημα αυτό, διαμορφώνεται μέσα στην εξελικτική πορεία μόνο της αγγλικής γλώσσας και υιοθετείται αμετάφραστη από τις άλλες ευρωπαϊκές γλώσσες.
Source note
Source: Introduction to the History and Theory of Graphic Design, 2006, Futura Editions
Editing/Translations: Miltos Fragkopoulos
