Technology Continues To Change The World Of Art & Design In The 21st Century

Technology has always been a huge driving force in the art and design fields. But ever since the introduction of personal computers in the 1980s and the advertising campaigns that went along with that advancement, technology has changed these fields at ever-faster rates.

Everyone who was watching the NFL Super Bowl in 1984 surely remembers the 60-second advertisement for the Apple Macintosh, with a woman hurling a hammer through a giant screen projection of Big Brother. Those who werent alive or were too young to remember have probably still seen or heard references to this ad, whether they know it or not. Even those who have never heard of the ad are still living in the aftermath of this advertising and technology breakthrough.

One of the most important lasting effects of the technological advancements of the 80s and 90s is the proliferation of advanced computer tools not only in offices, but in homes as well. From advertising agencies to the homes and offices of freelance artists and designers, the art and design industries were suddenly technology-heavy after the original personal computers were accessible to the public.

The way people write has changed, for example, whether they are writing for artistic or pragmatic purposes. Before the advent of word processors and personal computers with word processing abilities, people had to type out documents on a typewriter, edit them manually, and then type them out again. The whole process would have to be repeated until a final draft was settled on. Now, writing and editing can happen simultaneously and from the same virtual document.

The advances in the graphic design industry can be likened to the progression from typewriters to word processors to Microsoft Word and similar software. Designs are never fixed in todays high-tech environment; the onscreen layout and printouts of designs are merely illustrations of the current stage of the design, which can easily be edited within the program to enable a new idea. Virtually any aspect of the design can always be changed.

In the art industry, technology has also opened new doors for creativity and art appreciation. Artists have new media in which to work, including graphic design software and film technology, and art lovers are able to more easily access new art via the Internet. Art restoration and preservation is also more precise, efficient and accurate than ever before.

As technology continues to advance, one thing is certain the possibilities for art and design are virtually endless.