The father of British graphic design is widely considered to be Abram Games, an artist and designer with a long history in the field. Games was born in London in 1914, and started his career as a freelance graphic artist when he was just fifteen years old. After the Second World War, he became increasingly involved in the advertising industry, designing posters for the likes of London Transport and Shell.
Games’ work was characterised by strong lines, bold colours and striking typography. He often used humour to communicate his messages, which helped to make them more memorable. His most famous works include the ‘Keep Britain Tidy’ campaign poster for the Ministry of Education in 1950, which featured a giant pair of scissors cutting through a litter-strewn landscape; and his ‘For Your Tomorrow’ recruitment poster for the RAF during World War II, which depicted a soaring Spitfire fighter plane set against an orange sky.
Games’ style had a huge influence on British graphic design throughout the 20th century. He was one of the first designers to bring modernism into commercial design – combining traditional methods with contemporary techniques to create powerful visuals with an impactful message. His work appealed to both the public and industry alike, inspiring generations of designers who followed him in creating visually compelling graphics for advertising campaigns.
Conclusion: Abram Games is widely considered to be the father of British graphic design due to his hugely influential style that brought modernism into commercial design and inspired generations of designers who followed him.