MICHAEL GRANGER SICOB PARIS 1978 POSTER

The striking design on this poster shows a man stepping away from a skyscraper, with the imprint of the building’s grid defining his shape.  He leaves behind his precise image cut out from the building as though he had been a part of the structure itself.  On the top half of his body, the color behind the grid remains purple, as it is in the building, but it changes to red on the lower half of his body.

One other notable aspect of this poster is that it is devoid of text, which is quite unusual given that posters are typically designed to sell an idea, a product or, in this case, an event. 

French graphic designer Michael Granger (b. 1946) created this poster for a 1978 trade fair in Paris sponsored by a French professional association promoting office automation (SICOB – Salon des Industries et du Commerce de Bureau).

This poster's implicit observations in 1978 about the effect of technology on culture, society, work and self makes us all pause to reflect. These relationships remain just as complicated today, perhaps more so, as technology has increased its sophistication and reach into everyday life.

This powerful poster deserves a place in everyone's office, whether at home or work.  

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