The development of graphic design in Indonesia began with the billboard decoration and graphic illustration department (REDIG) in 1950, on January 15, 1950, the school was named the Toekang Reklame School and then in 1969, along with the change of ASRI into STSRI or the Indonesian Fine Arts High School majoring in REDIG was split into several majors, namely: majoring in advertising, decorative arts, and graphic arts
In 1972 STSRI held the first S-1 examination for the art of BA suni billboards. In 1983 the name of the advertising department was changed to the department of communication design.
In 1984, along with the change of STSRI into ISI (Indonesian Arts Institute) Yogyakarta through a fusion with AMI or the Indonesian Music Academy and the Indonesian Dance Academy (ASTI) majoring in communication design, it was transformed into a visual communication design study program and is still in use today.
In 1984, a graphic studio majoring in fine arts was pioneered at FTSP ITB. Then in 1973 the department was split into a graphic arts and graphic design studio. In 1984 the graphic design studio ITB was independent. And in 1994, the graphic design studio changed its name to Visual Graphic Design (DKV) to be at the same level as the department and under the faculty.
Graphic Design Higher Education began to be established in several campuses in Indonesia, namely:
· In 1977 at the Jakarta Arts Institute (IKJ)
· In 1979 at TRISAKTI University
· In 1981 at UNS
· In 1981 at UDAYANA
The era of the 1990s was marked by the establishment of DKV at STISI Bandung, followed by UPH in 1994. Now there are around 70 Indonesian graphic design higher education institutions spread across several cities, starting from Bandung, Jakarta, Medan, Surabaya, Palembang, Yogjakarta. , Solo, Malang, Salatiga, Makassar, Bali and in several other cities. If in the past someone had dreams of becoming a doctor, engineer, teacher, etc., now in the modern technology era, many people want to become a designer.