Propaganda and Graphic Design

Look: it’s a post that isn’t about the baby!

Historically, fascist and totalitarian regimes have had pretty good graphic design, tending toward a clean, uncluttered style. The connection is so strong and well-known that it’s a common source of parody and even direct criticism about Obama, who also has some pretty good designers.

Should we consider it deliberate, then, that the current US administration has such an unbelievably cluttered, clip-art heavy design aesthetic?

(These are all from the Office of the National Counterintelligence Executive; past hits include the Total Information Awareness logo and the original Homeland Security design.)