The great history of graphic design, both in Italy and internationally, reserves a secondary or minor role for women. Some publications have recently placed this question into a critical form, trying to understand the reasons for it, as well as accounting for gaps and absences (Breuer & Meer, 2012; Gomez-Palacio & Vit, 2008; Kirkham, 2000; Pansera & Occleppo, 2002; Piscitelli, 2015). However, if we refer in particular to what we could define as the golden age of Italian graphic design — in a time span between the 1950s and the early 1970s — few female figures have emerged, and those that have, are more like exceptions rather than as a result of a contextualised and intentional historical body of research based on a different point of view when compared to the ones identified as masters and paradigmatic cases. This paper aims to underline sources, methods and criteria to be adopted to achieve a possible rewriting of history in a more inclusive way, identifying a series of lesser-known personalities who have the full right to be considered pioneers and role models.

Women in Italian Graphic Design History: A Contribution to Re-write History in a More Inclusive Way.

Guida Francesco Ermanno
2020-01-01

Abstract

The great history of graphic design, both in Italy and internationally, reserves a secondary or minor role for women. Some publications have recently placed this question into a critical form, trying to understand the reasons for it, as well as accounting for gaps and absences (Breuer & Meer, 2012; Gomez-Palacio & Vit, 2008; Kirkham, 2000; Pansera & Occleppo, 2002; Piscitelli, 2015). However, if we refer in particular to what we could define as the golden age of Italian graphic design — in a time span between the 1950s and the early 1970s — few female figures have emerged, and those that have, are more like exceptions rather than as a result of a contextualised and intentional historical body of research based on a different point of view when compared to the ones identified as masters and paradigmatic cases. This paper aims to underline sources, methods and criteria to be adopted to achieve a possible rewriting of history in a more inclusive way, identifying a series of lesser-known personalities who have the full right to be considered pioneers and role models.
2020
Lessons to Learn? Past Design Experiences and Contemporary Design Practices. Proceedings of the ICDHS 12th International Conference on Design History and Design Studies.
978-953-7703-67-7
Rewriting history, Italian graphic design, women designers
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11311/1147945
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