Key Points:
- A new expert-led list revisits 10 of the most iconic advertising posters ever – timeless designs that still influence marketing and visual culture today
- Campaigns featured include Coca-Cola’s Santa, Apple’s “Think Different,” Nike’s “Just Do It,” and the enduring minimalism of “Got Milk?”
- According to a marketing expert, today’s digital advertisers can still learn from these posters’ bold simplicity, emotional resonance, and cultural staying power
In an age of TikToks and digital ads that disappear just as quickly as they appear in your feed, it’s worth taking a look back at the advertising posters that made history and persisted in the cultural memory.
“The golden age of poster advertising left us with images that still echo in modern branding and visual culture,” says Jason Morris, a marketing expert at My Profit Engine, a specialized, family-run link‑building agency.
Here, Jason revisits 10 of the most iconic advertising posters of all time, and highlights what modern marketers can still learn from their timeless appeal.
The Top 10 Most Iconic Advertising Posters of All Time
1. “I Want You for U.S. Army” – James Montgomery Flagg, 1917
Why it worked: Uncle Sam’s finger pointed straight at the viewer, turning a World War I mass recruitment message into a personal call-to-action. Its strong gaze and bold typography created a poster that couldn’t be ignored.
Legacy: A masterclass in direct address. The ‘you’ remains a staple in call-to-action copywriting and influencer marketing alike.
2. Coca-Cola Santa – Haddon Sundblom, 1931
Why it worked: Did you know that Coca-Cola redefined what Santa Claus looked like? Through painterly warmth, Sundblom’s Santa became the gold standard for holiday branding.
Legacy: Seasonal campaigns with recurring characters? You can thank Coke. Still a textbook example of emotional branding and brand consistency.
3. “We Can Do It!” (Rosie the Riveter) – J. Howard Miller, 1943
Why it worked: Rosie’s confident flex and strong colors created an instantly empowering image long before “girl power” entered the marketing vocabulary.
Legacy: From sportswear to skincare, the pose and slogan have been endlessly reimagined in campaigns promoting strength, independence, and self-belief.
4. “Got Milk?” – Goodby Silverstein & Partners, 1993
Why it worked: Sparse, quirky, and catchy. By pairing celebrities with milk mustaches and a two-word question, the campaign went viral before viral was even a thing.
Legacy: Minimalism meets mass appeal. The tagline became cultural shorthand and remains a prime example of memorable campaign structure.
5. Marlboro Man – Leo Burnett Agency, 1954
Why it worked: From gentle filtered cigarette to rugged masculinity, the Marlboro Man reframed a brand through visual storytelling alone. Wide-open landscapes and tough cowboys did the rest.
Legacy: Still cited in branding classes for how a lifestyle image can transform product perception. Aspiration sells.
6. Apple “Think Different” – TBWA\Chiat\Day, 1997
Why it worked: Black-and-white portraits of cultural icons. No product shots. Just the Apple logo and an invitation to be part of something visionary.
Legacy: Values-based branding begins here. For startups and legacy brands alike, it’s proof that identity can be your strongest pitch.
7. “Keep Calm and Carry On” – UK Ministry of Information, 1939 (rediscovered 2000s)
Why it worked: Originally designed as wartime morale support, the poster was rediscovered decades later and exploded into a global phenomenon.
Legacy: An example of typography-led design with emotional resonance. It gave rise to thousands of spinoffs and showed how simplicity can scale.
8. “Absolut Perfection” – TBWA, 1980s–2000s
Why it worked: Each ad reimagined the Absolut bottle in new contexts: New York, Andy Warhol, snowy landscapes. The shape remained constant; the story shifted.
Legacy: Possibly the longest-running print campaign ever, it proved that a product silhouette, when used creatively, can become iconic on its own.
9. “The Beatles – Abbey Road” (EMI Poster Campaign, 1969)
Why it worked: Technically an album poster, it crossed into advertising genius. No title, no band name, just four silhouettes walking across a zebra crossing. Instantly legible, deeply enigmatic.
Legacy: Used by everyone from Adidas to Vans, the Abbey Road visual remains one of the most spoofed and referenced in advertising history.
10. Nike “Just Do It” (Poster Series, late 1980s–1990s)
Why it worked: Action-packed, athlete-driven, and emotionally charged. These posters told stories of grit, sweat, and glory all in a single frame.
Legacy: Three words. A global empire. The slogan, paired with cinematic visuals, continues to drive Nike’s narrative decades later.
Jason Morris, marketing expert at My Profit Engine, commented:
“In an age of endless scrolling and short-lived content, these posters are a reminder of advertising at its most distilled and powerful. They prove that with the right image, message, and emotional trigger, a brand can carve out space in culture for years to come.
“What made these posters timeless was clarity of purpose. Each poster focused on one core idea, told visually and memorably. From Coca-Cola shaping Santa Claus to Apple inviting people to ‘Think Different,’ their campaigns sold identities, ideals, and emotions.
“For modern advertisers, the lesson is simple: attention is earned through resonance, not just noise. In today’s fragmented digital world, the ability to create a message that’s both visually arresting and emotionally enduring is more rare and valuable than ever.”
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