Posters: The Collection of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum

A colorful history of the poster design of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent

From its inception in 1863, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent has used posters to spread its messages and values. This volume compiles this graphically singular and historically fascinating collection for the first time.

Whether used to recruit volunteers, raise funds, call for blood donations, encourage proper hygiene, prevent diseases, respond to natural disasters, warn about anti-personnel mines or offer first-aid training, these posters attract attention, provide information and promote the humanitarian cause. More than a means of communication, they are also witnesses to a particular time in history, capturing events that changed the world and expressing the concerns of the regions in which they appeared. In addition, these posters read like a history of graphic design, charting the trends that take hold in diverse locations. Besides their important messages, these posters communicate to contemporary viewers what kinds of design resonated with people in different times and different places.