Abram Games was one of the twentieth century’s great graphic designers. His work is now a fascinating record of social history. For over 60 years he produced some of Britain’s most memorable images including the ‘Blonde Bombshell’ ATS poster of 1941.
His clients included the United Nations, London Transport, British Airways, Shell, the Financial Times and Guinness. He designed stamps for Britain, Jersey and Israel, book jackets for Penguin books and emblems for the Festival of Britain and the Queen’s Award for Industry. His influence even reached the infant television service in 1953 when he created the first animated BBC on-screen ident.
In the Second World War he was appointed 'Official War Poster Artist' and designed 100 posters. His Cona Coffee makers are design classics and his inventions include a portable hand-held duplicating machine and a hand held copying device.
All images © Estate of Abram Games
This is part 1 of a 3-part post on the works of Abram Games:
Abram's working life began in the east end of London. He initially started working in his father's photographic studio. Here, he honed his skills with the aerograph, a tool that would define his early work. Aged 16, he enrolled at St Martin's School of Art but left disillusioned after only two terms. However, he continued to study life drawing at evening classes.
He had a four-year stint in a commercial art studio but was sacked for being too rebellious. His first freelance commission came from Frank Pick at London Transport. By the time he was called up for army service in 1940, 24 of his posters had been published.
1935 Air Mail 1935-36 Friary Ales And Stouts 1936 LCC Classes (London County Council)
47 x 30 cm1936-37 Galleries Exhibitions Museums
(unpublished)1937 A Train Every 90 Seconds
London Transport 101.6 x 63.5 cm1938 Invest
Co-operative Permanent Building Society1939 Illustrated
Twopence Every Wednesday1939 Spanish Youthship Appeal
Poster for the National Joint Committee for Spanish Relief1939-45 Night & Day
Brush The Cobwebs Away 74.7 x 49.2 cm1939-45 I'm Looking For You
Fever Malaria1940s Visit Israel - Land of the Bible
75 x 49.8 cm1941 Join the ATS
Auxiliary Territorial Service 1941 Join the Royal Guard Armoured Corps
76 x 50.3 cm1941 Keep a Guard on What You Say
74.4 x 49.5 cm1941 one of our fighters is missing..
If You Are OFF Work With An Accident1941 radio location
Train with the Army or with the A.T.S.1941-42 Blood Donors are needed urgently to save these lives
66.3 x 49 cm1941-45 Use Spades Not Ships
Grow Your Own Food And Supply Your Own Cookhouse
74.5 x 49.1 cmc1941-45c Blood Donors Now
30 Minutes Of Your Time A Lifetime To Somebody Else
74.5 x 48.7 cm1942 Your Britain
Fight for it Now
51 x 75 cm1942 A Postmark Betrayed This H.Q...
Use The Army Post Office1942 A.T.S.
encouraging recruitment for the Auxilliary Territorial Service during the Second World War
72.4 x 48.6 cm1942 Grow Your Own Food
supply your own cookhouse
76 x 49.1 cm1942 His Rifle Will Fire, Will Mine?
Care Of Arms Is Care Of Life1942 Horse-Play With Weapons
May End Like This...1942 Take a Pride in Being Fighting Fit 1942 Talk Kills
50.2 x 37.7 cm1942 Talk Kills
50.2 x 37.7 cm1942 Your Britain - Fight For It Now
52 x 74.8 cm1942 Your Britain - Fight For It Now
50.5 x 74.5 cm1942 Your Talk May Kill Your Comrades
74.7 x 48.2 cmc1942 Our Jungle Fighters Want Socks
Please Knit Now
76.2 x 50.8 cm1943 ATS
(Auxiliary Territorial Service)
76.3 x 50.7 cm1943 Blood Donors.
If He Should Fall Is Your Blood There To Save Him?
37.1 x 24.1 cm 1943 education
new knowledge new worlds new pleasures1943 He Talked. They Died.
World War II propaganda against careless talk1943-44 Target for Tomorrow No.9
The Rehousing Of Britain
