The Gutenberg Bible

The image shown is called the Gutenberg Bible, which is Genesis, the first book of the Christian Bible. This book stands as a remarkable testament to Johannes Gutenberg's unwavering passion for innovation, despite the immense financial difficulties he faced in creating the first printing press with movable metal type. His relentless pursuit not only revolutionized book production but also made literature accessible to a broader audience, challenging the elitism of knowledge and making literacy more accessible. This intersection of economic struggle and creative ambition reflects a deeper relationship between graphic design and cultural currency, where the quality of design often serves as a marker of "taste." In this context, individuals from various economic backgrounds can cultivate a distinct aesthetic and cultural capital, using design as a means to assert identity and influence societal norms. Within the scope of design, a higher social class could support one's ability to understand art but it can also affect one's ability to do said art. This relationship between understanding and doing, analyzing and the physical labor of creative endeavors illustrates how economic barriers are capable of reshaping cultural landscapes and altering collective tastes in profound ways.