Keep Calm and Carry On

Anyone who knows me (and my annoying yet lovable tendency to correct people’s grammar) knows I’m not one for sentences that end in prepositions. However, I’ve decided to make an exception for this post.The “Keep Calm and Carry On” movement is one that spread like wildfire. It reminds us that simple can be powerful. It is reminiscent of the “Got Milk?” ad campaign for me. In both cases, the uncomplicated catch phrase went beyond propaganda and marketing for its cause, and ignited a creative and cultural movement. It’s free advertising at its finest.Here’s a little background for you. “Keep Calm and Carry On” was a poster produced by the British government in 1939 during the beginning of World War II, intended to assuage fear of German invasion among the British public. It was designed by a civil servant in England’s Ministry of Information, but was never actually released since the Allies triumphed. In 2000, a copy of the poster was discovered in a bookstore in England, which sparked this creative trend. Below are some of my favorite recreations.

Most were chosen not for the design itself, but instead for the concepts. Enjoy!