These surreal vintage Polish posters are a graphic design dream

Soviet-era design is often associated with stark, hard angles, dull hues and a utilitarian clunkiness, but these stunning posters from post-war Poland show a very different story, and they're absolute classics of graphic design. Bold and colourful, the posters shine with vibrant personalities, and a duo of London-based dealers is now ensuring they get the credit they deserve.

From the 1950s right through to the 1980s, the Polish School of Posters blended painterly aesthetics with the direct, concise form of communication offered by the poster in a way that blurred the line between designer and artist. The influence of names like Ryszard Kiwerski and Maciej Hibner hasn't been as well recognised internationally as that of Western designers like Saul Bass, but judging by some of these posters, it should be (for more poster inspiration, see our selection of the best poster designs).

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Joseph Foley

Joe is a regular freelance journalist and editor at Creative Bloq. He writes news and features, updates buying guides and keeps track of the best equipment for creatives, from monitors to accessories and office supplies. A writer and translator, he also works as a project manager at London and Buenos Aires-based design, production and branding agency Hermana Creatives, where he manages a team of designers, photographers and video editors who specialise in producing photography, video content, graphic design and collaterals for the hospitality sector. He enjoys photography, particularly nature photography, wellness and he dances Argentine tango.