If architectural design is a subset of graphic design, I propose the following example, which is the first reply to this thread's question: "Did literary criticism approaches contribute to the development of graphic design? How?"

Recently, I observed the critical concept of "mimesis" in a photograph on another RG thread devoted to Architecture about 4 days ago (today is 2/23/2020). The building named "Tour Carpe Diem" has an architectural design of mirrorings of geometrical surfaces, instead of cement, which reflect daylight, as well as mirroring the light reflected on the windows and exterior glassy surfaces of different companion buildings. The "Tour Carpe Diem" architecturally translates the meaning of its Latin name, and also bridges the modern period with ancient Roman culture.

To continue my observation of a specific way ideas espoused in Literary Criticism have contributed to the development of graphic design in Architecture, I would like to explain that during the classical heroic age, the Pre-Christian Roman citizens did not believe in an afterlife, hence the motto "Carpe Diem," which literally means "Seize the Day"! Romans advocated a philosophical view that life is short, and therefore, it is important to live life to the fullest now. The "mimesis" familiar to literary theorists and literary critics who hold that "Art is a Representation of Reality" (see Erich Auerbach's book Mimesis: The Representation of Reality in Western Literature) and that "Poetry reflects and illuminates dimensions of reality" (see M.H. Abrams, The Mirror and the Lamp) is thus visibly at play in the architectural design of "Tour Carpe Diem."

This is the third installment of my initiatory answer to this excellent and rather challenging interdisciplinary thread:

Erich Auerbach is a literary critic specializing in Realism, while M.H. Abrams is an American literary critic with specialization in English Romantic poetry. Erich Auerbach's book Mimesis: The Representation of Reality in Western Literature, which was originally written in his native language German and then widely acclaimed as a masterpiece of literary criticism in the English translation, performs textual analyses of narrative prose fiction beginning with Homer's The Odyssey, Virgil's The Aeneid, and the Old Testament. Similarly, M.H. Abrams closely reads and explicates texts that epitomize the aesthetics and ethics of nineteenth-century English Romantic philosophy, which embraces the past, including "the glory that was Rome". Auerbach stresses the role of imagination in the literary representation of reality as an artistic, not imitative, endeavor. Abrams emphasizes the continuity between the historical past and the present while also elucidating with scientific precision critical imagery of the mirror and the lamp.

Contemporary architectural designs follow the historical pattern in literary criticism, as indicated in this excerpt from a Timeline for Architectural Design:

"A reaction against the Modernist approaches gave rise to new buildings that re-invented historical details and familiar motifs. Look closely at these architectural movements and you are likely to find ideas that date back to classical and ancient times (boldface added to emphasize relevance to my reply to this thread--ed. NAW).

Postmodern architecture evolved from the modernist movement, yet contradicts many of the modernist ideas. Combining new ideas [and substituting old materials, e.g., stone, replaced by new materials, i.e., glass (ed. NAW)] with traditional forms, postmodernist buildings may startle, surprise, and even amuse. Familiar shapes and details are used in unexpected ways. Buildings may incorporate symbols to make a statement or simply to delight the viewer (boldface added to emphasize relevance to my reply to this thread--ed. NAW).

Philip Johnson's AT&T Headquarters is often cited as an example of postmodernism. Like many buildings in the International Style, the skyscraper has a sleek, classical facade. At the top, however, is an oversized "Chippendale" pediment. Johnson's design for the Town Hall in Celebration, Florida is also playfully over-the-top with [classical age (ed. NAW)] columns in front of a public building. . . . .

. . . . The key ideas of Postmodernism are set forth in two important books by Robert Venturi. In his groundbreaking 1966 book, Complexity and Contradiction in Architecture, Venturi challenged modernism and celebrated the mix of historic styles in great cities such as Rome. . . ."

https://www.thoughtco.com/architecture-timeline-historic-periods-styles-175996

For the source of my inspiration in contributing my answers to this thread today, February 23, 2020, I wish to acknowledge that I owe a debt of gratitude to the thread that contains "Tour Carpe Diem," located at this Researchgate link: https://www.researchgate.net/post/Is_architecture_an_art#view=5e5231712ba3a1176d550492

"Is architecture an art?", Asked January 21, 2019, by Ghada M.Ismael Kamoona