# Supergraphics

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Supergraphics
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Supergraphics.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supergraphics
> Source revision: 1340866053
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

Not to be confused with a graphic novel imprint by [Jim Steranko](/source/Jim_Steranko#Publisher_and_paperback_artist).

**Supergraphics** are large-scale [painted](/source/Paint) or applied decorative [graphics](/source/Graphics) used over interior or exterior walls, floors, or ceilings in order to alter [visual perception](/source/Visual_perception) of a [building](/source/Building) or [interior space](/source/Interior_design).[1][2][3][4][5] Supergraphics typically wrap around multiple architectural [planes](/source/Euclidean_plane) or surfaces,[6][4] and change appearance of spaces by affecting perception of their size or depth.[7][8]

Supergraphics are one of the tools of [environmental graphic design](/source/Environmental_graphic_design) that can allow to incorporate [wayfinding](/source/Wayfinding_(urban_or_indoor)) or [branding](/source/Brand)[1] in [public spaces](/source/Public_space) like [transit hubs](/source/Transport_hub), [office buildings](/source/Office), [hospitals](/source/Hospital), or schools.[2][9] Supergraphics have also been used as a tool of [urban renewal](/source/Urban_renewal).[9][6] Unlike [murals](/source/Mural), supergraphics are defined by their oversized scale and typically incorporate [typography](/source/Typography), multi-colored [abstract](/source/Abstract_art) graphic shapes, patterns,[10] or [illustrations](/source/Illustration).

## History

Supergraphics originated in mid-1960s[3] and surged in popularity during the 1970s.[4] Early practitioners of supergraphics included [graphic designers](/source/Graphic_designer) [Barbara Stauffacher Solomon](/source/Barbara_Stauffacher_Solomon),[11][12] [Morag Myerscough](/source/Morag_Myerscough), [Lance Wyman](/source/Lance_Wyman),[13][2] and [Deborah Sussman](/source/Deborah_Sussman).[8][7][14] [Sea Ranch](/source/Sea_Ranch,_California), a 1965[15] project by Barbara Stauffacher Solomon, introduced supergraphics to a wide American audience.[16][8][17][18] After a decline in popularity in the decades that followed, supergraphics experienced a resurgence in 2000s.[6][19]

The term supergraphics was first used by teacher and critic C. Ray Smith[19][6] in 1967[4] to describe experimental work developed by the [postmodern](/source/Postmodernism) architectural movement of Supermannerists.[6][19] Smith's definition of supergraphics excluded depiction of [alphanumerics](/source/Alphanumericals) or [figurative illustrations](/source/Figurative_art). Over time, the term had been expanded to include any large-scale architectural graphics that alter the viewer's perception of architectural environment.[4][6][7] Modern interpretation of supergraphics also includes graphics that are [projected digitally](/source/Video_projector) or displayed on [screens](/source/Display_device).[19]

## References

1. Baldwin, Eric (2017-06-19). ["Building Identity: 10 Bold Supergraphics That Make a Statement - Architizer Journal"](https://architizer.com/blog/inspiration/collections/super-graphics/). *Journal*. Retrieved 2025-07-31.

1. Dawood, Sarah (2018-02-22). ["Supergraphics: how to transform public spaces through design"](https://www.designweek.co.uk/issues/19-25-february-2018/supergraphics-transform-public-spaces-colour-images-typography-design/). *Design Week*. Retrieved 2025-07-31.

1. ["Dictionary.com | Meanings & Definitions of English Words"](https://www.dictionary.com/browse/supergraphics). *Dictionary.com*. Retrieved 2025-07-31.

1. AnOther (2015-04-27). ["Really Super Graphics"](https://www.anothermag.com/design-living/7357/really-super-graphics). *AnOther*. Retrieved 2025-07-31.

1. ["A Tour Of The World's Coolest Supergraphics"](https://www.fastcompany.com/90162145/a-tour-of-the-worlds-coolest-supergraphics). *Fast Company*. 2018-03-02. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220627155620/https://www.fastcompany.com/90162145/a-tour-of-the-worlds-coolest-supergraphics) 2022-06-27 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2025-07-31.

1. PrintMag (2011-01-23). ["Su, Sup, Super Graphics"](https://www.printmag.com/daily-heller/su-sup-super-graphics/). *PRINT Magazine*. Retrieved 2025-07-31.

1. Brook, Tony & Shaughnessy, Adrian (2019). [*Supergraphics : transforming space : graphic design for walls, buildings & spaces. Unit 2*](http://archive.org/details/supergraphicstra0000unse). London: Unit Editions. ISBN 978-0-9562071-1-1.

1. ["A supergraphics superhero"](https://www.torched.la/a-supergraphics-superhero/). *Torched*. 2024-05-16. Retrieved 2025-07-31.

1. ["Supergraphics"](http://formsofinquiry.com/inquiry/supergraphics). *formsofinquiry.com*. Retrieved 2025-07-31.

1. ["The Iconic '70s Design Trend That's Back in a Big Way"](https://food52.com/story/27117-supergraphics-design-trend). *Food52*. 2022-02-18. Retrieved 2025-07-31.

1. Gortmaker, Christopher (2025-07-28). ["'Like art vanishing into architecture': Barbara Stauffacher Solomon's Modernist Supergraphics"](https://asapjournal.com/review/like-art-vanishing-into-architecture-barbara-stauffacher-solomons-modernist-supergraphics/). *ASAP/Review*. Retrieved 2025-07-31.

1. ["Loving Supergraphics: The Bold and Colorful World of Babara Stauffacher Solomon"](https://www.lateralobjects.com/post/city-survival-bar-dress-code-guide). *Lateral Objects*. 2019-04-08. Retrieved 2025-07-31.

1. Inglis, Theo (2023). *Graphic Design Bible: The Definitive Guide to Contemporary and Historical Graphic Design for Designers and Creatives*. Prestel Verlag. p. 292. ISBN 978-3-7913-8990-5.

1. PrintMag (2012-10-10). ["Supergraphics and Computer Art: Deborah Sussman and April Greiman in L.A."](https://www.printmag.com/design-events-conferences/supergraphics-and-computer-art-deborah-sussman-and-april-greiman-in-l-a/). *PRINT Magazine*. Retrieved 2025-07-31.

1. Adams, Sean (2018-03-30). ["Big"](https://designobserver.com/big/). *DesignObserver*. Retrieved 2025-07-31.

1. ["Supergraphics: Is this OTT '70s Design Trend Making a Comeback?"](https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/supergraphics-is-the-70s-design-trend-making-a-comeback-240144). *Apartment Therapy*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20241205081418/https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/supergraphics-is-the-70s-design-trend-making-a-comeback-240144) 2024-12-05 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2025-07-31.

1. Heller, Steven (2024-05-13). ["The Daily Heller: Supergraphics Supernova Barbara Stauffacher Solomon Dead at 95"](https://www.printmag.com/daily-heller/the-daily-heller-supergraphics-super-nova-barbara-stauffacher-solomon-dead-at-95/). *PRINT Magazine*. Retrieved 2025-07-31.

1. Walker, Alissa (2018-01-03). ["Sea Ranch's world-famous supergraphics almost didn't happen"](https://web.archive.org/web/20201021011018/https://archive.curbed.com/2018/1/3/16842200/barbara-stauffacher-solomon-sea-ranch-supergraphics). *Curbed*. Archived from [the original](https://archive.curbed.com/2018/1/3/16842200/barbara-stauffacher-solomon-sea-ranch-supergraphics) on October 21, 2020. Retrieved 2025-07-31.

1. Shaughnessy, Adrian (2010-09-07). ["A new generation of supergraphics"](https://www.wallpaper.com/architecture/a-new-generation-of-supergraphics). *Wallpaper**. Retrieved 2025-07-31.

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Supergraphics](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supergraphics) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supergraphics?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.