People’s Graphic Design Archive

New Year's Eve poster 1967–1968

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 21:19:37 +0000

Iconic psychedelic designer Bonnie MacLean created this New Year poster with a globe cut into slices (time zones?), a dove, stained glass vibes, and very groovy gold typography.

Cooper Hewitt's Collection

Propaganda poster during the Japanese occupation of Indonesia

Mon, 29 Dec 2025 19:31:38 +0000

The Japanese occupation of Indonesia (formerly the Dutch East Indies) began in 1942 and ended in 1945. During this period, Japan also carried out various propaganda actions to gain sympathy from the Indonesian people. One of the propaganda carried out by Japan was the formation of the 3A Movement: Nippon Leader of Asia, Nippon Protector of Asia, and Nippon Light of Asia. The propaganda carried out by Japan also usually had anti-Western sentiments, whether in the form of posters, writings, and various other media.

The poster read:

“Awas Mata-Mata Moesoeh” (Beware of enemy spies).

TOKYO OLIMPIAD MOVIE POSTER 1965

Mon, 29 Dec 2025 19:31:03 +0000

A Tokyo Olympiad film poster found in the archives of the เดลินิวส์ (Daily News) newspaper in 1965. Tokyo Olympiad, also known in Japan as Tōkyō Olympic (東京オリンピック, Tōkyō Orinpikku, lit. "Tokyo Olympics"), is a 1965 Japanese documentary film directed by Kon Ichikawa that documents the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. Like Leni Riefenstahl's Olympia, which documented the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin. Tokyo Olympiad was released theatrically in Japan on March 20, 1965 where it was distributed by Toho Studios. It had an original runtime of 165 minutes and included an intermission.

DJAJA MAGAZINES COVER IN 1967

Mon, 29 Dec 2025 22:54:23 +0000

Djaja magazine was a weekly magazine in the 1960s, with its editorial office located at Jln. Pintu Besar Selatan 86-88, Jakarta-Kota. The magazine was owned by the Jakarta Special Capital Region Government and had been managed since 1962. During the reign of President Soekarno, Djaja magazine had no competitors, but since the New Order came to power, when various magazines and other publications began to gain popularity, this magazine experienced a decline in popularity. One of the main reasons was that Djaja served as a public relations tool for the government. Because of this, Djaja employees took the initiative to write a letter to DKI Governor Ali Sadikin requesting that the magazine be privatized. As a result, the management of Djaja was transferred to the Jaya Raya Foundation, which was under the control of the DKI Jakarta Government. A deputy editor-in-chief of Djaja, Kho Tiang Boen (Harjono Trisnadi), later became one of the founders of Tempo magazine.

September 11th day of remembrance poster

Mon, 29 Dec 2025 19:28:27 +0000

This poster, “September 11, 2002: Celebrating the Human Spirit,” was made at Iowa State University for the first anniversary of 9/11. It lists various events throughout the day, including moments of silence, music, journaling, a candlelight vigil, and small group gatherings. The big words on the left, “Reflect, Inspire, Give, Community, Unity,” show what the school wanted people to focus on while remembering the attacks. The design is simple and profound, which matches the tone of the day. Even though Iowa is far from New York, the poster shows that students and staff still felt the impact of 9/11 and wanted a space to honor the people who died and support each other. The poster also reflects how institutions, such as universities, play a role in guiding communities through the process of tragedy, offering structure and meaning in difficult times.

Mount Prospect Farm

Mon, 29 Dec 2025 19:27:15 +0000

The “Mount Prospect Farm” poster, owned by A. R. Ohl & Sons near Iowa City, features a collage of photos showcasing their bulls, calves, cows, pastures, and farmhouse. It was created in the late 1800s or early 1900s to advertise the farm and showcase their animals and breeding skills. Posters like this helped farmers find buyers and demonstrate their expertise. By showcasing healthy, prize-winning livestock, the farm owners could explain to people that they were skilled and trustworthy. This poster also showcases Iowa's pride in its livestock and the increasing organization and business focus of farming at the time.

Iowa State vs. Colorado

Mon, 29 Dec 2025 19:26:30 +0000

This is a full-on illustration of a homecoming game of Iowa state vs. Colorado where the football team is not the main component of the issue but, rather the fans of both teams. In this game, Iowa lost their streak of winning, they were having a good season until Colorado came along. It was also the first experience of a Cy, ad as the official mascot. I presume this issue was showed before the game either way it was a foreshowing how this game was going to end, since it was late in the season this was a big game. The person next to the Colorado title there are fans that are cheering which can assume the team has won. Next to the title Iowa State is where it is showing an upset, student, while he stares at the others in resentment.

A methodology that helped me infer more about this issue is culture methodology and, the first thing I notice is how white this issue is, which makes me think of the times and how racism was on a high social construct. Making the cover look flat due to the saturated colors, and all the people look the same. Also, there are three woman which I’m surprised by me wouldn’t expect any woman to be there, even though they do get overshadowed by the men especially since they are white. The deception of the people on the cover gives me the idea of who went to these games because, they wouldn’t be making up these people they would actually take account of who the demographic was, and they showed it through this illustration. The first element that drew me into the issue was color at how saturated but, still natural and realistic especially for its time, and how the fans are showing these dramatic expressions. The longer you look at it, you see that there is no contrast between the people and how the people are color coded with their clothing even, two of the women are in similar colors.

Iowa State vs. Baylor, October 27, 2012

Mon, 29 Dec 2025 19:25:57 +0000

This Iowa State gameday program from 2012 has a classic, high-energy look featuring Steele Jantz and Aaron Horne front and center. It’s a great piece of memorabilia that captures a specific era of Cyclone football, especially with the 100-year homecoming celebration logo tucked at the bottom.

We Kindle These Lights notecard

Fri, 19 Dec 2025 23:22:38 +0000

Hanukkah notecard

We Kindle These Lights (Hanukkah), 1961
Ben Shahn (American, b. Lithuania, 1898-1969)
Gouache, ink, and gold leaf on paper, 20 1/2 x 26 13/16 in.
The Jewish Museum, New York, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Albert A. List Family, JM 105-72
© 2025 Estate of Ben Shahn / Licensed by VAGA at Artists Rights Society (ARS), NY

From the Jewish Museum:

While the mitzvah of lighting the menorah is an outward-focused mitzvah – the menorah is lit in a window or doorway – it is also an opportunity for personal reflection on the deeper meaning of Hanukkah. Recognizing this, a special paragraph was added to the menorah lighting ritual. Ha’nayrot Halalu, as it is called, is recited immediately after the Hanukkah blessings. This work by American artist Ben Shahn (1898-1969) includes those words.

Hanukkah Catalog

Fri, 19 Dec 2025 23:08:33 +0000

Shulsinger Brothers [Undated, between 1943 and 1963], 21 East 4th Street, New York 3, New York

Looks as if customers can purchase retail or wholesale.

Kharman (Rafsanjan)

Thu, 18 Dec 2025 21:51:08 +0000

Graphic Designer: Ebrahim Haghighi
Title: Kharman (Rafsanjan)
Format: Calligraphic Carpet
Medium: Handmade Carpet: Wool and Natural Dyes
Year: 2022

For The History of Graphic Design Course
Added by: Mayesha Reiman, Farmingdale State College-SUNY
Professor Roshanak Keyghobadi, EdD, Farmingdale State College-SUNY

Ma Ra Ze Khial (Arak)

Thu, 18 Dec 2025 21:50:36 +0000

Graphic Designer: Ebrahim Haghighi
Title: Ma Ra Ze Khial (Arak)
Format: Calligraphic Carpet
Medium: Handmade Carpet: Wool and Natural Dyes
Year: 2021

For The History of Graphic Design Course
Added by: Mayesha Reiman, Farmingdale State College-SUNY
Professor Roshanak Keyghobadi, EdD, Farmingdale State College-SUNY

Naghshe Ghalat (Arak)

Thu, 18 Dec 2025 21:50:00 +0000

Graphic Designer: Ebrahim Haghighi
Title: Naghshe Ghalat (Arak)
Format: Calligraphic Carpet
Medium: Handmade Carpet: Wool and Natural Dyes
Year: 2019

For The History of Graphic Design Course
Added by: Mayesha Reiman, Farmingdale State College-SUNY
Professor Roshanak Keyghobadi, EdD, Farmingdale State College-SUNY

Ab Toei, Kouzeh Toei…

Thu, 18 Dec 2025 05:06:14 +0000

Designer: Ebrahim Haghighi
Calligraphic Carpet

"Carpet weaving is an ancient art, while graphic design represents a modern medium. In Ibrahim Haghighi’s works, there is a harmonious fusion of traditional and contemporary elements: carpets and modern literature, calligraphy and graphic art, as well as ancient and contemporary artistic styles. Haghighi has consistently and thoughtfully integrated various facets of Iranian culture into his creations, resulting in a rich interplay of conceptual and visual dimensions.
The art of carpet weaving embodies meticulous precision and the passage of time, both of which are prominently displayed in Haghighi’s work. His carpets serve as a reflection of his meticulous approach and focused dedication to his craft. The diversity of his calligraphy is evident within the carpets, where one piece may feature free-flowing and unreadable lines, while another showcases pure, orderly, and expansive calligraphic strokes. This exploration of temporal dynamics within the contours of calligraphic forms underscores the artist’s patience and precision in shaping and advancing Persian calligraphy in his oeuvre.
The evocative liberation of Persian calligraphy in Haghighi’s works not only captures the allure and charm of this art form but also signifies a breakthrough for modern literature from the constraints of outdated ideologies. Moreover, Haghighi presents carpets as enduring companions to Iranians across generations, symbolizing the essence of everyday life in Iran. This portrayal injects a renewed sense of vitality, motion, and novelty into ancient Iranian culture, elevating it to a contemporary artistic realm. Movement, liberation, freedom, alongside adherence to established parameters, are integral aspects of Haghighi’s artistic persona and define the distinctive characteristics of his creations."

Added by: Jean Paul Navarrete for the History of Graphic Design course at Farmingdale State College-SUNY.
Professor Roshanak Keyghobadi

Anke Por Naghsh

Thu, 18 Dec 2025 05:06:06 +0000

Designer: Ebrahim Haghighi
Calligraphic Carpet

Added by: Jean Paul Navarrete for the History of Graphic Design course at Farmingdale State College-SUNY.
Professor Roshanak Keyghobadi

Ebrahim Haghighi- I will say hello to the Sun Again

Fri, 19 Dec 2025 08:56:50 +0000

Designer: Ebrahim Haghighi
Fiber Arts Typography

Added by: Jean Paul Navarrete for the History of Graphic Design course at Farmingdale State College-SUNY.
Professor Roshanak Keyghobadi