• Archives of design research
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.147-155
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• 2001

Graphic design plays an important role in contemporary culture. The chief social function of design is to create a visual identity. This essay focuses on the development of American graphic design and the embodiment of national identity in the twentieth century. The first chapter looks at the brief history of American graphic design. And the following chapter analyzes the example of those designers who have most obviously contributed to embodying identity in the United States. At the beginning of the twentieth century American modern design began with strong European roots. American designers added new forms and concepts to the tradition of graphic design. And their original approach to modern design gained international prominence. American design was pragmatic, intuitive, and more informal in its approach. The purpose of this essay is to inquire into the identity of American graphic design in a chronological survey.