Tom Eckersley

Design writer Paul Rennie gives an overview of Tom Eckersley's career and explains the impact his work had--and continues to have--on graphic design today.

Tom Eckersley (1914-1997) was an English poster artist and design teacher, and part of the "outsider" generation that transformed graphic design in Britain in the mid-century era. As a graphic designer and poster artist, he was at the forefront of the explosion of print culture in Britain during the 20th century. He is best known for his posters, which used bold, bright colors and flat graphic shapes to convey their message in a simple and effective way. His design work spans WWII and the decades following, and his impressive client list includes the BBC, Ministry of Information, British Rail, the Post Office, Guinness, Keep Britain Tidy, London Transport, Imperial War Museum, Royal Society for the Prevention of