Graphic Design + Architecture: A 20th-Century History examines the often overlooked union of graphic design and the built environment in the context of artistic, social, and cultural movements and influences of the twentieth century. It is the first publication of its kind to provide a detailed historical overview of the pairing of these two disciplines. Poulin deftly discusses the relationship between typography, image, symbol, and visual storytelling in the modern world by exploring principal themes, major technical developments, important manufacturers, and pioneering designers over the last 100 years. With examples dating back as far as ancient times (cave paintings in Lascaux; Egyptian hieroglyphics; Roman monumental inscriptions), to the modern era (Russian constructivist wall murals during the Bolshevik Revolution; the great white ways of Times Square, Piccadilly Circus, and the Las Vegas Strip), Graphic Design + Architecture reveals the continuous dialogue that has been exchanged between graphic design and the built environment throughout history.

The book is also available in a Chinese edition.

The book was recognized by Communication Arts, eg Magazine, and Graphis for Excellence in Publication Design and the Society of Experiential Graphic Design (SEGD) for Design Excellence in Research, Writing, and Publication Design.