OUGD401 - Study Task 05 - Planning & Structuring an Essay

The topic that I have chosen to write about is: “Discuss the role that Graphic Design can play during periods of political and/or social upheaval." I am going to look at graphic design during the Cold War and how it helped fuel the Cold War much like the Arms Race and the Space Race.

To begin with I will look at these five sources:

Cold War Modern: Design 1945-1970 by David Crowley
The Design of Dissent: Socially and Politicaly Driven Graphics by Milton Glaser
War Posters: Weapons of Mass Communication by James Aulich
Design as a Weapon of the Cold War, a Creative Review article
10 Amazing Cold War Propaganda Posters, web page by Designer Daily

I plan to look at two pieces of design, so far, however I may find another piece I want to look at. The two pieces in question are Superman by Roman Cieslewica from 1968,

and Don't brag about your job by Reginald Mount and Eilea Evans from 1960.

I will focus on how Graphic Design was another race during the Cold War, similar to the Arms Race and the Space Race, much like these two events, design and art advanced dramatically as each superpower strived to be better than the other.

I'm going to look at how both sides made each other look like they were both in the dark ages or far behind in technology and the quality of living.

I will look at how each side represented each other to the public by using propaganda.

I will conclude by explaining how this race and expansion of art and design sped the advancement of creativity, much like the advance in technology.