Times of political unrest and social strife have a tendency to be caused by people feeling powerless. When populations feel that they have been marginalized and their voices are not being heard, systems of government struggle to find solutions to problems and contain the disturbance. Even though it may feel like it at times, do difficult situations always mean that people have less power? The history of political graphic design tells a different story than what you might think. Often, it is exactly at points when things seem to be at their most dire – when society is on the brink of fracture – that simple and charismatic designs and messages take hold and make a real impact. Precisely because people feel that there is a lack of social dialogue, or a power vacuum waiting to be filled, they are often more likely to take stock of simple designs and optimistic campaigns that have something important to say. This is a powerful lesson to learn, not just for graphic designers, but also for companies and businesses who intend to use graphic design as a way to promote their own brands and cultures. Our staff at Ultimax understands that it is important for our customers to have a unique voice for their brand. Thinking about the power that simple designs can have during difficult times is an important lesson to consider.