VA324 History of Graphic Design
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on Feb 02, 2026
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Visual Arts and Visual Communications Design
Meliha Teparić
Course Lecturer
Course Objectives
1. To introduce the main concepts and methods of graphic design, 2. historical developments and stylistic periods. 3. to understand why the object looks the way it does as well as the role of ornament, materials, style, and technological innovations that have influenced the development of graphic design into the practice.
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Course Materials
Required Textbook
Philip B. Meggs&Alston W. Purvis, Meggs' History of Graphic Design. New Jersey: John Wiel&Sons, Inc.2012 .
Additional Literature
Richard Hollis, Graphic Design. A Concise History, London: Thames and Hudson, 1994.Teaching Methods
Lectures with slide and video presentations
Museums and galleries visits combined with class discussion
Analyses and exercises.
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction to the History of Graphic Design | |
| 2 | The Invention of Writing; Alphabets; The Asian Contribution; | Megg's, pp. 6-61 |
| 3 | Illuminated Manuscripts, Printing Comes to Europe; | Megg's, pp. 62-95 |
| 4 | The German Illustrated Book; Renaissance Graphic Design; | Megg, pp. 98-137 |
| 5 | An Epoch of Typographic Genius; Graphic Design and Industrial Revolution | Megg's, pp. 138-191 |
| 6 | Graphic Design and Industrial Revolution; The Arts and Crafts Movement and Its Heritage; | Megg's, pp. 192-247 |
| 7 | Art Nouveau; The Genesis of Twentieth-Century Design; | Megg's, pp. 248-268 |
| 8 | Midterm Exam | |
| 9 | Influence of Modern Art; Pictorial Modernism; | Megg's, pp. 271-313 |
| 10 | A New Language of Form; The Bauhaus and the New Typographic Style; | Megg's, pp. 314-365 |
| 11 | The Modern Movement in America; | Megg's pp. 366-405 |
| 12 | The International Typographic Style; The New York School; | Megg's pp. 406-426 |
| 13 | Corporate Identity and Visual System; The Concept Image; | Megg's pp. 427-475 |
| 14 | Postmodern Design; National Revolution a Global Dialogue; | Megg's, pp.476-545 |
| 15 | "The Digital Revolution - and Beyond" | Megg's, pp.546-587 |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
| Section | Type | Day 1 | Venue 1 | Day 2 | Venue 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VA324.1 | Course | Tuesday 12:00 - 14:50 | B F2.17 | - | - |
Office Hours & Room
| Day | Time | Office | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday | 09:00 - 12:00 | B F2.7A | |
| Thursday | 10:00 - 12:00 | B F2.7A |
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Assessment Components
Final Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3
In-term / midterm exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3
Quizzes
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3
Assignments
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3
Presentation
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3
IUS Grading System
| Grading Scale | IUS Grading System | IUS Coeff. | Letter (B&H) | Numerical (B&H) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 - 44 | F | 0 | F | 5 |
| 45 - 54 | E | 1 | ||
| 55 - 64 | C | 2 | E | 6 |
| 65 - 69 | C+ | 2.3 | D | 7 |
| 70 -74 | B- | 2.7 | ||
| 75 - 79 | B | 3 | C | 8 |
| 80 - 84 | B+ | 3.3 | ||
| 85 - 94 | A- | 3.7 | B | 9 |
| 95 - 100 | A | 4 | A | 10 |
Late Work Policy
Information about late submission policies will be shared during class and posted in this section. Please check back for official guidelines.
ECTS Credit Calculation
📚 Student Workload
This 6 ECTS credit course corresponds to 150 hours of total student workload, distributed as follows:
Lecture Hours
45 hours ⏳ (15 week × 3 h)
Assignments
56 hours ⏳ (14 week × 4 h)
In-term Exam Study
17 hours ⏳ (1 week × 17 h)
Final Exam Study
18 hours ⏳ (1 week × 18 h)
Quizes
14 hours ⏳ (2 week × 7 h)
150 Total Workload Hours
6 ECTS Credits
Course Policies
Academic Integrity
All work submitted must be your own. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in disciplinary action according to university policies. When in doubt about citation practices, consult the instructor.
Attendance Policy
Students are expected to adhere to the attendance requirements as outlined in the International University of Sarajevo Study Rules and Regulations. Excessive absences, whether excused or unexcused, may impact academic performance and eligibility for assessment. Mandatory sessions (e.g., labs, workshops) require attendance unless formally exempted. For detailed policies on absences, documentation, and penalties, please refer to the official university regulations.
Technology & AI Policy
Laptops/tablets may be used for note-taking only during lectures. Phones should be silenced and put away during all class sessions. Audio/video recording requires prior permission from the instructor.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Usage: The use of AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini) varies by assessment component. Please refer to the AI usage indicator next to each assessment item in the Assessment Methods and Criteria section above. Submitting AI-generated content as your own work, where AI is not explicitly allowed, constitutes an academic integrity violation.
Communication Policy
All course-related communication should occur through official university channels (institutional email or SIS). Emails should include [VA324] in the subject line.
Academic Quality Assurance Policy
Course Academic Quality Assurance is achieved through Semester Student Survey. At the end of each academic year, the institution of higher education is obliged to evaluate work of the academic staff, or the success of realization of the curricula.
Learning Tips
Be prepared to contribute thoughtfully during class discussions, labs, or collaborative work. Active participation deepens understanding and encourages critical thinking.
Complete assigned readings or prep materials before class. Take notes, highlight key ideas, and jot down questions. Aim to grasp core concepts and their applications—not just facts.
Use course frameworks or methodologies to analyze problems, case studies, or projects. Begin early to allow time for reflection and refinement. Seek feedback to improve your work.
Don’t hesitate to reach out when something is unclear. Use office hours, discussion boards, or peer networks to clarify concepts and stay on track.
Syllabus Last Updated on Feb 02, 2026 | International University of Sarajevo
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Referencing Curricula Print this page
| Course Code | Course Title | Weekly Hours* | ECTS | Weekly Class Schedule | ||||||
| T | P | |||||||||
| VA324 | History of Graphic Design | 3 | 0 | 6 | Tuesday 12-3 p.m. | |||||
| Prerequisite | None | It is a prerequisite to | - | |||||||
| Lecturer | Meliha Teparić | Office Hours / Room / Phone | Tuesday: 9:00-12:00 Thursday: 10:00-12:00 |
|||||||
| mteparic@ius.edu.ba | ||||||||||
| Assistant | Assistant E-mail | |||||||||
| Course Objectives | 1. To introduce the main concepts and methods of graphic design, 2. historical developments and stylistic periods. 3. to understand why the object looks the way it does as well as the role of ornament, materials, style, and technological innovations that have influenced the development of graphic design into the practice. |
|||||||||
| Textbook | Philip B. Meggs&Alston W. Purvis, Meggs' History of Graphic Design. New Jersey: John Wiel&Sons, Inc.2012 . | |||||||||
| Additional Literature |
|
|||||||||
| Learning Outcomes | After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: | |||||||||
|
||||||||||
| Teaching Methods | Lectures with slide and video presentations, museums and galleries visits combined with class discussion, analyses and exercises. | |||||||||
| Teaching Method Delivery | Face-to-face | Teaching Method Delivery Notes | ||||||||
| WEEK | TOPIC | REFERENCE | ||||||||
| Week 1 | Introduction to the History of Graphic Design | |||||||||
| Week 2 | The Invention of Writing; Alphabets; The Asian Contribution; | Megg's, pp. 6-61 | ||||||||
| Week 3 | Illuminated Manuscripts, Printing Comes to Europe; | Megg's, pp. 62-95 | ||||||||
| Week 4 | The German Illustrated Book; Renaissance Graphic Design; | Megg, pp. 98-137 | ||||||||
| Week 5 | An Epoch of Typographic Genius; Graphic Design and Industrial Revolution | Megg's, pp. 138-191 | ||||||||
| Week 6 | Graphic Design and Industrial Revolution; The Arts and Crafts Movement and Its Heritage; | Megg's, pp. 192-247 | ||||||||
| Week 7 | Art Nouveau; The Genesis of Twentieth-Century Design; | Megg's, pp. 248-268 | ||||||||
| Week 8 | Midterm Exam | |||||||||
| Week 9 | Influence of Modern Art; Pictorial Modernism; | Megg's, pp. 271-313 | ||||||||
| Week 10 | A New Language of Form; The Bauhaus and the New Typographic Style; | Megg's, pp. 314-365 | ||||||||
| Week 11 | The Modern Movement in America; | Megg's pp. 366-405 | ||||||||
| Week 12 | The International Typographic Style; The New York School; | Megg's pp. 406-426 | ||||||||
| Week 13 | Corporate Identity and Visual System; The Concept Image; | Megg's pp. 427-475 | ||||||||
| Week 14 | Postmodern Design; National Revolution a Global Dialogue; | Megg's, pp.476-545 | ||||||||
| Week 15 | "The Digital Revolution - and Beyond" | Megg's, pp.546-587 | ||||||||
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Final Exam | 1 | 25 | 1,2,3 | Not Allowed | |
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| In-term / midterm exam | 1 | 25 | 1,2,3 | Not Allowed | |
| Quizzes | 2 | 30 | 1,2,3 | Not Allowed | |
| Assignments | 10 | 10 | 1,2,3 | Not Allowed | |
| Presentation | 1 | 10 | 1,2,3 | Not Allowed | |
| *** ECTS Credit Calculation *** | |||||
| Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | |||
| Lecture Hours | 3 | 15 | 45 | Assignments | 4 | 14 | 56 | |||
| In-term Exam Study | 17 | 1 | 17 | Final Exam Study | 18 | 1 | 18 | |||
| Quizes | 7 | 2 | 14 | |||||||
| Total Workload Hours = | 150 | |||||||||
| *T= Teaching, P= Practice | ECTS Credit = | 6 | ||||||||
| Course Academic Quality Assurance: Semester Student Survey | Last Update Date: 23/02/2026 | |||||||||