by Steven Cline, graphic designer & illustrator at Lara J Designs

Between 1935 and 1943 President Franklin D. Roosevelt started the new deal, and the Works Progress Administration was established with the goal of putting Americans back to work. Part of the WPA budget went to art projects, one area of which was poster design. More than two million posters were produced during this time. These posters had many subjects, including travel, education, health & safety, and more. One poster topic which really shines today is the National Park Travel Posters produced during that era. The crisp simplicity and soft color palette of these works are timeless and breathtaking.

WPA artist Chester Don Powell & screen printer Dale Miller are believed to have been the main designers of these National Park Posters. When the program was closed down at the beginning of World War 2 these Park posters were virtually forgotten, but in 1973 a Grand Teton poster was found and many others were subsequently re-discovered.

The crisp simplicity and soft color palette of these works are timeless and breathtaking.

You can read more about and see more of these amazing posters here.

Contact Lara J Designs for more information about how we can help you create timeless branding for your business.