Many of the most iconic images of mid-20th century Britain were the work of Abram Games (1914-1996), the country’s Official War Poster Designer during World War II and creator of the emblem for the 1951 Festival of Britain.

For many Britons in the 1950s, Games’ image of Britannia festooned with red, white and blue bunting was as – if not more – evocative of the Festival of Britain and its ‘can do’ spirit than any of the marvels of post-war British manufacturing on show in the festival pavilions.

Applying his personal philosophy of ‘maximum meaning, minimum means’ to posters, stamps and advertising campaigns, Games devised an extraordinary collection of distinctive and compelling graphic images. The exhibition traces Abram Games’ career from winning the London County Council poster competition just a few years after leaving art school, to the enduring images he created for clients like Guinness, British European Airways, London Transport, Shell and the BBC. Finished posters are shown alongside original preparatory sketches, films and inventions – including the Cona coffee maker and a portable paper copier.

Abram Games: Maximum Meaning, Minimum Means is a national touring exhibition, originally organised by the Design Museum and toured by the Estate of Abram Games, made possible by a grant from The Wellcome Trust.

www.abramgames.com

Please note: the exhibition closes at 2pm Sunday 14 September.