Always Fasten Safety Belt

Bold, direct, and visually unified, this WWII-era aviation safety poster delivers a clear and essential message: “Always Fasten Safety Belt.” Two hands extend toward the center of the image, locking a bright yellow harness into place. The oversized buckle at the center is rendered in crisp detail, anchoring the composition with a sense of urgency and stability. Radiating lines and angled typography emphasize the action in progress, turning a basic safety habit into a visual command. Issued by the Directorate of Air Traffic and Safety and the Directorate of Safety Education, this poster was part of a series designed to instill critical flight habits among thousands of rapidly trained WWII pilots and crew members. Its high-impact composition ensured that the reminder to buckle up — simple as it seems — would be noticed, remembered, and followed. The design leans into wartime modernism, using limited color, bold shapes, and airbrushed shadows to maximize legibility. Rather than show conse