The Museum of Architecture and Design (MAO) is proud to announce the English-language edition of The Century of the Poster: Slovenian Poster Design in the 20th Century by Dr Cvetka Požar, a comprehensive study that traces the evolution of the Slovenian poster throughout the 20th century. First published in Slovenian to accompany the acclaimed 2015 exhibition of the same name, this seminal work is now available to international readers for the first time.

Spanning over a century of social, cultural, and technological change, The Century of the Poster offers a detailed typological and stylistic analysis of the poster as a medium of mass communication. Dr Požar examines how the poster in Slovenia — like elsewhere in Europe — emerged as a powerful visual tool, shaping public space, influencing political discourse, and reflecting the aspirations and transformations of modern society.

Drawing from MAO’s extensive visual communications collection — the only one of its kind in Slovenia — alongside materials from national libraries, archives, and private holdings, the book presents a rich visual narrative of over 300 posters. From early 20th-century lithographs to late modernist and post-socialist design, the selection illustrates how Slovenian designers contributed to global developments in visual communication while articulating distinct local identities.

“Posters have always carried more than messages,” writes Dr Požar. “They’ve carried the spirit of their time. In the 20th century, the Slovenian poster stood at the crossroads of art, politics, and public life, revealing how design can become a voice of both creativity and change.”

The publication has been met with critical acclaim. Art historian Dr Fedja Vukić describes it as “an important and comprehensive panorama of poster design in Slovenia… supported by accurate critical insight and rich scholarly grounding.” Similarly, Dr Stane, Bernik praised the book as “ a vibrant portrait of the Slovenian poster landscape, perceived through a critical dialogue and analytical interpretation of the poster imagery of the past. As such, The Century of the Poster is a unique achievement and an indisputable, animated witness to the heritage of graphic design and visual communication.”

With its combination of historical depth, rigorous scholarship, and compelling visual material, The Century of the Poster provides essential reading for historians, designers, and anyone interested in visual communication and the modern public image.

The English edition — published by the Museum of Architecture and Design — extends the reach of a landmark work in design history, inviting a global audience to explore how the poster, as both artistic expression and communicative tool, defined much of the 20th century’s visual landscape.

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Publication Details

The Century of the Poster

Author: Dr. Cvetka Požar

Publisher: Museum of Architecture and Design (MAO), Ljubljana

Language: English

Original edition: 2015 (Slovenian) | English edition: 2025ž