In the thirties, with the immigration of Central Europeans, the advertising industry began to thrive. Israeli Graphic Design Association “the Painters Association for Useful Graphics”, was founded in 1935 on the grounds of the establishment of the Zionist enterprise and the Aliyah enterprise in the first years of the 20th century.

Until then, in the absence of financial resources, lack of professionals and the required technical knowledge, most of the advertising ads were foreign and attached to imported products. Other ads were copied from magazines, or designed only with motions taken from the Jewish tradition, Eastern symbols and Art Deco.

The first association members were experienced graphic artists from Central Europe including Rudy Dayan, Franz Krauss, David Shanor, Shabtai Rubin, Tovia Aharoni, the Shamir brothers, Yehiel Kogan, and others. This group of artists headed by R. Dayan had to fight for the recognition of graphics as a profession.

In the years of World War II, the Association of Graphic Artists was also called to enlist in the war effort and in 1942, propaganda was distributed in the Land of Israel, followed by an exhibition in 1943 entitled “Useful Graphics in Times of Peace and War”.

With the declaration of the state Richard Levy was chosen, after a period of activity in the association, to serve as the graphic consultant of the Israeli government. A position that he will hold for 10 years and in the framework of which all the state orders pass under his hands: the national flag, the state emblem (designed by Shamir), the symbols of the IDF forces and more.

In 1966, the association was among the founding associations of the “Icogarda” – an international organization of graphic designers’ associations

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