International Design Organizations and the Study of Transnational Interactions: the Case of Icogradalatinoamerica8o

摘要

There is no scholarly consensus about when to situate the emergence of graphic design practice in Latin America. While many argue its birth to be strictly related to the institutionalization of design from the mid-1950s, others maintain that it has been developing in the region since the nineteenth century. Nevertheless, there is unanimity regarding some aspects of the establishment of professional practice; for instance, that throughout the twentieth century, transnational interactions with western Europe and the USA have affected Latin American graphic design practice. The ways in which these interactions-and their outcomes-have been traditionally depicted are scrutinized here, in an attempt to suggest new perspectives on the analysis of intercultural interactions. This article aims to explore the nature of cultural exchanges between western Europe, Anglo America and Latin America, through the lenses of centre-periphery and postcolonial theories, by focusing on a regional conference on graphic design-Icogradalatinoamerica80-held in Mexico in 1980 and sponsored by a self-proclaimed international council, namely Icograda.