I have been long-standing friends with the owners of the Military Collectibles Shop in West Allis, Wisconsin, having been a collector of World War American items for 15 years. Having been a long-time customer of their highly respectable business, I offered to make a few things for them.

Military Collectibles Shop

Vintage-style poster featuring a smiling man in military uniform and helmet, with the text 'I WAS THERE' at the top and 'MILITARY COLLECTIBLES SHOP WEST ALLIS, WISCONSIN' at the bottom.
Poster reading 'I WAS THERE' with a smiling soldier in uniform and hat, promoting a military collectibles shop in West Allis, Wisconsin.

A t-shirt and a poster design I created for the shop. The design resembles that of World War One era American recruiting posters and features a soldier from the 32nd Infantry Division, primarily from Wisconsin. The “service stripes” in the rear further enhance the “I was there” idea and also represent the service stripes of the 32nd Division in World War One.

Military collectibles shop Mark and Jerry illustration in the style of Bill Mauldin
Military collectibles shop Mark and Jerry illustration in the style of Bill Mauldin

This was some print collateral made for the shop based upon Mark and Jerry’s existing souvenir helmets from WWI and WWII. I designed it to be highly reminiscent of the “Willie and Joe” cartoons from Bill Mauldin.