
However, inconsistent application and less confident secondary typography muddy the overall effect. The distinctive typography of her campaign strikes a balance between retro and contemporary in a similar fashion to New York candidate Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. In an election year when many candidates across the country won’t even list their party affiliation on their website, unexpected typography and colors join forces to capture the electorate’s anti-institutional sentiments on both the right and left.ĭeb Haaland seeks to make history as the first Native American woman elected to Congress.

The intention of these choices is to set the candidates apart from the two major parties. Beto O’Rourke, Renee Hoyos, and Deb Haaland are just a few of this year’s contenders using unique fonts to signal that they stand out from the herd. Several candidates, both fresh and familiar, take a distinct and contemporary approach to typography and color. As a new generation of design-literate politicians begin to join the national stage, we expect to see more intentional uses of design in politics. Politics on the left and right sides of the spectrum have become more candid, and many candidates are making their allegiances and perspectives more visible through their campaign branding. Is this symptomatic of a larger issue in government-that our leaders are out of touch with a 21st-century digital society that has fully embraced design as a problem-solving and communications tool?Ī review of current political design suggests as much, and exposes interesting parallels with the state of politics and the divides in American society. In an arena where candidates look for any electoral edge, not many have adopted a sophisticated design approach.

They seem to agree that design is an important thing to have, like a nice wardrobe, but few campaigns embrace design’s nuance or actual power. Politicians seem to grasp design and branding about as well as they understand other complex subjects, like immigration or tax incentives. The mid-terms have brought out some great typography. Menu Graphic design Fonts and Leading on the Campaign Trail
