Obama Campaign Poster: Word and Image

In some aspects of visual communication, word and image work together to communicate a bigger message. Sometimes, a work's message can be perceived with only the use of words. Other times, the message can be received by looking at the image only, paying no attention to the text of the work.

In the United States 2008 presidential campaign, a series of posters created by artist Shepard Fairey promoted Obama during his run for the presidential artist. Although the images were not official campaign posters of Obama's presidential campaign, the posters have become famous icons, symbolizing what the posters say: hope, change, and progress.

The interaction of word and image on the poster design above supports the image in effectively communicating a the message of "HOPE" to its audience. With the use of colors in the portrait of Obama, the neutral beige color in the center conveys a sense of hope when surrounded by the more bold and darker colors of blue and red.

Like the colors communicating a message of hope in the previous poster, the use of colors in the portrait of Obama also effectively communicates the poster's message of "CHANGE." The bold change in the contrasting colors of red and blue conveys change within the poster as a whole.

Lastly, colors and line within the portrait also supports the poster in effectively communicating its message of "PROGRESS." By alternating the light blue and beige colors using lines, the poster shows an upward progression throughout the image. 

With the use of simple details such as line, color, and contrast within an image, the message that a mere word can communicate on its own can be amplified with the word's interaction with image.

(Images taken from Google Image Search)