Graphic designers tend to have varied opinions about the definition of their field, but graphic art is primarily concerned with representing and communicating ideas to the viewer.
Graphic design is has been practiced for centuries, but the term "graphic designer" was first used by designer and typographer William Dwiggins in 1922.
Print media such as posters, books, magazines, and newspapers have historically been the primary venue for graphic design.
Graphic designers have often created and manipulated type styles for use in their designs, and typography is often as important in graphic design as other visual elements.
The advent of desktop publishing at the end of the 20th century introduced graphic designers to digital tools, and the rise of the Internet has expanded the palette of the designer to include animation, video, sound and other forms of new media.