Design and Theft of Election Signs

By Virginia Prescott on Monday, November 3, 2008.

We’re about to tackle two pressing questions: Why do all election signs look the same? And who keeps stealing them from our yards?

Now, the Obama campaign has been a little more inventive in their pop art-inspired posters. But generally, it’s the same red, white and blue bumper stickers, buttons and lawn signs we see every election. Producer Hillary Frank asked graphic designer Michael Bierut to explains why so many of these campaign signs look the same, no matter what side of the fence they’re planted on. She produced this piece for Studio 360's ongoing series "Design for the Real World." Click here to listen.

This election may be one of the most divisive battles in American political history. Perhaps nowhere is that divisiveness – and anger – felt than in the theft of Obama and McCain yard signs around the country. In southwest Michigan, political activists on both sides say the disappearance of such signs is unprecedented. Dan Collison and Elizabeth Meister of Long Haul Productions have the story. Click here to listen.

(Photo by Jen Watson)

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