The Story Behind The ‘Keep Calm And Carry On’ Poster

10th March, 2012

The simple poster with the phrase “Keep Calm And Carry On” became popular in this modern day and age.

But how did it come about?

Barter Books has created a short video that looks at its origins.

According to the video ‘The Story of Keep Calm and Carry On’, it started in the beginning of World War II in England.

In the spring of 1939 during the build up to war with Germany, the British government commissioned a series of propaganda posters to offer the public reassurance of the dark days that laid ahead.

Three posters were created: “Your Courage, Your Cheerfulness, Your Resolution, Will Bring Us Victory”; “Freedom Is In Peril, Defend It With All Your Might”; and “Keep Calm and Carry On”

The posters were uniform in style, featured a “special and handsome typeface” so that it would be difficult for the enemy to counterfeit, two colors, and the crown of King George VI as the only graphic device.

The “Keep Calm and Carry On” posters were never used—as they were held in reserve, and were intended for use only in times of crisis or invasion, which never happen.

Until its rediscovery, in a second-hand bookshop in northeastern England in 2000, did it become one of the iconic images of the 21st century.

Source: Design Taxi