Is there a Canon of Graphic Design History?

• The concept of canon is under debate right now in literary/educational circles, as its existence is alleged to produce a culturally narrow and elitist university curriculum, among other cultural problems.
• The word canon was originally used to designate the books of the Bible.
• 5 books were chosen for the study to investigate whether a canon of graphic design exists
• A canon of 8 designers: Herbert Bayer, A. M. Cassandre, El Lissitzky, Herbert Matter, Laszlo Moholy-Nagy, Josef Muller-Brockmann, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Piet Zwart,
• They are all male, all born before 1920, all native Europeans
• I believe the existence of a canon have both pros and cons. I believe having superstars in the design industry attracts people who are interested in graphic design to be like them and it encourages them to develop their practices. But at the same time, a canon js limiting new designers ability and opportunity to go beyond the convention, and creates impression that they don't need to go any further, because the best is known.

Summary

5 books were chosen for the study to investigate whether a canon of graphic design exists or not. From this chosen books, they have found a canon of 8 designers: A. M. Cassandre, El Lissitzky, Herbert Matter, Laszlo Moholy-Nagy, Josef Muller-Brockmann, Henri de Touloue-Lautrec, and Piet Zwart. The commonality between these canon of designers was that they are all male, born before 1920, and native Europeans.

The Essay also addresses the problems of the canon. I also found that it’s problematic, because by having a canon, it leaves designer an impression that they don’t need to go any further in terms of their design practices, because the best is already known.

But at the same time, I also found the pros of having a canon as well. It says canon creates superstars, and by having superstars, it helps in gaining more recognition in the field of graphic design, and eventually, it can encourage people to build their practices.