I can see very quickly how not being aware of basic artistic movements, or categories, would be a major deficiency of any visual designer. Clients would expect someone working in visual media to have a basic understanding of what is modernism, what is considered expressionism, etc; after all, they can request that a particular design have a certain affinity to an artist or artistic movement, and a designer would not only look silly but incompetent if he didn’t know what the client was referring to.
Sure, a designer could do research, and I’m sure that’s expected. But having a root understanding only enhances the skills that a particular person has, and can expand on that knowledge. It’s also part of being educated.
A good designer has to not only know how to use software, the hard tools, of his craft, but also to have a good eye, a fundamental understanding of different types of designs, artistic movements, styles, etc., and to keep current on new forms and exposures, what’s considered popular (even if he disagrees), what’s considered passé, what’s considered nostalgic, and so on. This broadens his appeal; he’s able to better serve the client, even if the client is himself, his own personal space. How can you come up with an appropriate design (and appropriate in this context can mean radical) for a particular product if you only know one style? If your background, your understanding of art is limited, then you don’t bring much to work with.
One of the designers interviewed in “Helvetica,” who bemoaned the typeface, said that only working with Helvetica was severely limiting the imagination, the possibilities, of other ideas. That concept applies here, to art, as well. Why limit yourself?
How to educate yourself? My first answer is of course the Internet. Google designers. A lot of times, on magazine spreads, sometimes even on websites and brochures, there is a person listed in the credits for the design or execution of a specific work. Go from there. Ask around. The beauty of the Internet, of information, is that it can lead you down a rabbit hole – and that’s what you want when you’re exploring. That can lead you to books, to people, to other sources. Find out what you like, see who else likes it too, what they produce, and what you can borrow from them. This will also lead you to find out who are the bigwigs in the profession, whether they are companies or styles or even just the local dudes who created the awesome logo for the bus station. There are learning opportunities everywhere.