Poster with a message

The Barack Obama "Hope" poster was designed by Shepard Fairey and used in the 2008 election campaign. While Fairey did not design the poster specifically for the campaign, it was widely distributed with the support of the committee, though independently. 

It is a fairly simple design, utilizing the colors of the Obama logo. Obama is centered in the frame, gazing pensively into the distance, which makes it a very powerful image. In various representations of the design, the word at the bottom is changed. While "hope" is the most popular, "change" and "progress" are also used. The use of the powerful single word in all caps makes a strong statement about what the image represents.

Although it was initially designed as a poster, the image was also distributed as paraphernalia during the campaign, which made it one of the most recognized symbols of  Obama's election.

Like any decent iconic symbol of culture, the image also has some controversy behind it. It was found that Fairey used a photograph taken by Mannie Garcia, a freelancer for The Associated Press. He tried to destroy documents and create others to cover up the crime, but eventually pleaded guilty and was sentenced to two years probation, 300 hours of community service, and a $25,000 fine. 

Today, a stenciled version of the image hangs in the Smithsonian Institution's National Portrait Gallery. Laura Barton, a writer for The Guardian, equates the image to that of Jim Fitzpatrick's Che Guevara poster and poses the idea that the poster may be found on the walls of future college students. Whether that is the case or not, it is undeniably an iconic symbol of today's culture.