War brings out the worst and best through acts of barbarity and courage. Somehow, humanity purports to believe that war has rules of conduct, when the only rule (conventions to the contrary) is that there are no rules. War crimes are determined once a victor has vanquished the enemy. Derived from the demands of war, nonetheless, surprising byproducts of value and beauty have emerged. One such is this rare set of cautionary graphics, “National Air Defense Maps,” created by the Great Japan Air Defense Association during World War II to instruct civilians on how to safely behave during perilous times.
These graphics are not designed to make warfare more palatable, but to attract they eye and trigger sensitivity to lifesaving procedures. Similar to info designed by Ladislav Sutnar, they transcend the conventionally drab government-issued notices.
The graphics below were downloaded (with permission) from the David Rumsey Map Collection (and suggested by Eric Baker). The text by Martin Nell that accompanies the entire collection is excerpted here:
“[This is] an extraordinary object that combines militaristic propaganda and public education with remarkable information design. Shortly before and during the Second World War, the great powers Italy, Russia and Japan in particular published much material that raised an initially dry topic to a high aesthetic and propagandistic standard with strong persuasive power through outstanding graphic design. Unfortunately, the Japanese contribution to this ‘alternative’ history of graphic design has not been sufficiently appreciated to date. This large-format (755 x 515 mm) publication, complete with all pages, from the Dainihon Bōkū Hōkokukai (Great Japan Air Defense Association) provides an important building block for this aspect of graphic design history. With its 35 color lithographic plates, it illustrates all aspects of the air raids carried out by the U.S. Air Force and the air and civil defense derived from them. Air raids by the United States Armed Forces began on a large scale from mid-1944 and increased in scope and intensity, particularly during the final months of the war.
“… In addition to graphically attracting processes enriched by pictograms (e.g., in the event of a bomb alarm, bombing or major fire), the plates also contain, among others, intuitive options for fire prevention and fighting, darkening of buildings and important first aid measures, depictions of the dangers posed by, for example, damaged and collapsed buildings and electricity.”