The history of typography goes as far back as the mid-15th century with the first printings of the Gutenberg Bible. During this time, the typographers Gothic typefaces and Blackletter scripts were the primary typefaces used. Through the following centuries, typefaces began to evolve and be tailored to different designs. By the 1700s, typefaces began to be categorized by purpose such as serif or sans serif. Through the 19th century, typography underwent major changes, from simpler Mosaic typefaces to artistic Art Nouveau typefaces. The industrial revolution in the late 19th century and early 20th century spurred even more Practical typefaces and an increase in typographic production.
By the beginning of the 20th century, typography was a key element in graphic design. This era also saw the rise of modern typefaces that had a more systematic and technical approach to its design and production. Some typefaces from this era are still in use today, such as Futura, Helvetica, and Garamond. In recent years, there has been a surge in digital typography, with many typefaces available on the web with unlimited font size and color options. Popular modern trends such as gradient typography, custom display fonts, and bold, daring fonts are being used more and more in graphic design. If the history of typography is any indication, this trend is likely here to stay.