For my choice of retro object I picked the now-infamous "Keep Calm and Carry On" poster.
Originally created in 1939 by the British Government as a means of keeping the British public from freaking out about a possible invasion and maintaining Britain's "stiff upper lip image", this poster was actually never used during WWII. The designer of the poster is actually unknown (according to the wikipedia article concerning the poster), and it was the third in a series of similar prints. "Keep Calm and Carry On" was seen as the absolute last resort to bring up morale when the country was in a state of peril, so it never ended up being used, but the first two slogans, "Your Courage, Your Cheerfulness, Your Resolution Will bring us Victory" and "Freedom is in Peril" were posted throughout the country.The intent of the design of the posters was to enforce a sense of duty in citizens, and a call to action. The crown imagery reinforces the strength of the British monarchy, giving audiences a sense of security in the British Empire (because "the sun never sets on the British Empire")
It was resurrected in the 2000's, at first as the original "Keep Calm and Carry On", however, in a different context. The poster was now commonly found in homes and personal offices, rather than in the public space, as a sort of personal reminder of motivation. Today "Keep Calm and Carry On" speaks to economic, environmental, and personal challenges. The phrase along with the accompanying crown appear on coffee mugs, doormats, bookmarks and since is now public domain.
The best thing about this poster is the spin offs people have created using that ubiquitous typeface, arrangement and crown:
Like the ironic version, with the crown turned upside down as a symbol of distress:
And my personal favourite, the anti-procrastinator motivator for DIY enthusiasts like me:
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