If Johannes Gutenberg hadn’t invented the printing press in 1440, everything about visual design would probably look way different today. Without the printing press, it would have been super hard for people to share new ideas and styles because making copies of anything would take forever. Scribes would still be copying books by hand, which means that the designs would be fancy but all over the place and not really the same. Only rich people would be able to buy books, so most people wouldn’t have access to new ideas or art, and graphic design would stay pretty limited and not very diverse.
In a world without a printing press, people might have relied more on talking and storytelling through pictures. This could mean that different regions would come up with their own unique styles and art forms, creating cool local designs. Instead of using printed materials, people would probably focus more on things like paintings, carvings, and weaving to communicate messages. This might lead to a world where art is all about local craftsmanship and handmade stuff, showing off regional patterns and skills. However, it would miss out on the standard designs and global connections we have today because printed materials wouldn’t exist.