Flashback to a time when government reports were works of art
2 days ago
- #graphic design
- #transportation history
- #government reports
- Government reports in the mid-20th century often featured artistic covers with thoughtful graphic design to make dry data engaging.
- Rachel Cole, curator at Northwestern University Transportation Library, shares these covers online to highlight transportation history and aesthetics.
- Artistic report covers, like those mimicking Saul Bass or using creative visuals for topics like road deaths or electric cars, aimed to humanize serious issues.
- Graphic designers argue these covers made reports memorable and effective, contrasting with today's generic, often template-based designs due to budget cuts and digital distribution.
- The decline of artistic covers reflects a shift towards cost-effective but less impactful designs, potentially reducing the memorability and engagement with important information.