This poster is the work of Béla Aba who designed the graphic identity for the Hungarian Democratic Forum during the first free elections in Hungary following the collapse of communism.

All three elements of the graphic identity appear on this poster: the full name of the party (Magyar Demokrata Fórum), its abbreviation (MDF), both in an elegant ‘Antiqua’ font, and the party emblem based on a stylized palmette plant motif. Aba kept this motif as a flat form in pure green, but later versions added red and white colours and developed it into a tulip. Both the palmette motive and the tulip appealed to the conservative voters because they are associated with old Hungarian cultural traditions. Stylized plant motives decorated the robes and arms of the Hungarian tribes that conquered the Carpathian Basin in the 9th century. The tulip is a characteristic motive of Hungarian folk art. The popularity of the logo was enhanced by rumour that it was invented by Levente Szörényi, a popular pop singer and composer. Aba did indeed use a sketch by Szörényi with whom he was friendly. However, the original drawing was profoundly modified by the designer.

The text taken from the Lord’s prayer and the spiritualized face of the boy (the artist’s son) are intended to visualise the refrain of the conservative parties: ’God, fatherland, family’.