Propaganda Design Style Development

Propaganda design style during World War used to be an important part of a war strategy in every country to influence people’s minds and feelings by delivering effective messages through visual media such as posters and films. It was first started in the Boer war in South Africa in 1899 when the involved countries began to use the propaganda style to encourage soldiers and influence public opinions. 

During World War II, the propaganda design style gained more popularity and was widely used by the involved countries. Its designs were symbols that were easy to remember and that delivered clear, firm messages.

The use of bright, light colors and strong rhetorical, emotional messages are the characteristics of the propaganda design style in World War II to influence people’s minds and emotions. It occasionally showed heart-touching pictures or scary ones to affect public opinions.

Propaganda Design Style Development

The propaganda design style has developed significantly since it was first used in the Boer War in South Africa in 1899. Here are the developments of the style along the history.

1. In the very beginning, the propaganda design style was used to encourage soldiers and influence public opinions. However, through the technology and media developments, this design has been utilized to spread wider messages to society.
2. In the first World War, the propaganda design style began to use easily remembered symbols and to deliver clearly firm messages. In addition, the use of bright, light colors were to make the design more interesting for readers.
3. In World War II, the propaganda design style gained its popularity and was widely used by countries involved in the war. The use of bright, light colors and emotional messages with strong rhetoric to influence people’s emotions and minds are the characteristics of the propaganda design style in this period.
4. In the post World War II period, the propaganda design style shifted its traditional roles from encouraging people and influencing their minds to delivering persuasive, entertaining messages along with the use of advanced technology, such as TVs and films to deliver messages more widely.
5. In the modern era, the propaganda design style is still widely used by a number of countries and organizations to influence public opinions and to promote certain ideas, products and services. By using glittering, fun pictures and emotionally strong rhetorical messages, such a design can attract buyers’ attention.

 

Characteristic of Propaganda Design 

There are several characteristics that are commonly associated with propaganda design, including:

Simplification

It often simplifies complex issues and ideas, presenting them in a way that is easy for the target audience to understand and remember.

Repetition

Propaganda messages are often repeated frequently in order to ensure that they are remembered by the target audience.

Appeal to emotions

This style usually appeals to the emotions of the target audience, rather than using logical arguments. This can include using images and symbols that evoke powerful feelings, such as fear, anger, or patriotism.

Use of symbols

Uses symbols, such as flags or patriotic imagery, to evoke feelings of nationalism and pride

Use of loaded language

They often uses loaded language, such as loaded words and phrases to evoke an emotional response and influence the target audience’s attitudes and behavior.

Use of testimonials

The style uses testimonials from respected or famous individuals to lend credibility to the message.

Credibility through association

It associates the message with respected or credible sources or organizations to increase the perceived credibility of the message.

Transfer

This style use the transfer technique where they associate a message, often negative, with an opponent or the enemy. This is used to make the audience react negatively to the opponent or enemy.

 

Tips for Making a Propaganda Poster Design

Generally, the propaganda design style was an important part of a war strategy used by countries to influence public opinions and encourage soldiers through visual media. However, as time passes, the design shifts its role from using it for war issues to promoting products and services or even social and political campaignes.

Here are the tips to create a propaganda designed-poster to use it accurately and to attract people’s attention.

Decide the communicative purpose

First of all, decide whether the communicative purpose for your propaganda designed-poster is for product and service promotions, social message deliveries, or public opinion influences on certain issues.

Choose a proper theme

Choose a proper theme based on the communicative purpose in point one. The theme chosen has to be able to deliver messages clearly and understandably to readers.

Choose the right font type

Choose the suitable font type for the communicative purpose and readers’ conditions because oversized and too small fonts can not deliver messages clearly to readers.

Use the right color

Color is also an important consideration to create a propaganda designed-poster. That is why you should use the proper color based on the communicative purpose and readers’ conditions because too bright or dark colors will make readers hard to read and understand the message’s meanings. 

Use the right pictures 

Make sure to use the right pictures based on the communicative purpose and readers’ conditions because either heart-touching or scary pictures can affect public opinions.

Deliver messages clearly

Deliver the message’s meanings clearly and understandably to readers. Use short, meaningful sentences to touch readers’ feelings.