Nicky Dieter, Flickr

For decades, political campaign advertising had more in common with Menards than Milton Glaser: campaign graphic designers — whose job was to sell candidates often through an expected visual language of flag-toned stars and/or bars — took the back seat, while the well-funded media buyers got the front. Then came Barack Obama. His campaign, lead by design director Scott Thomas, enlisted designer Sol Sender to both create a memorable, appealing identity and advance the lessons of Howard Dean’s web-savvy “netroots” surge of 2004.

We all know what happened next. Obama’s “O” logo became ubiquitous, embraced and modified by supporters so it appeared everywhere: carved into Halloween pumpkins, spray-painted on city concrete, plastered on cars, t-shirts and mugs, reprinted on one of American history’s most recognized political posters, and interpreted by DIYers on murals, baked goods, light-up bike spokes and beyond.

"Change" by Patrick T. Power

Next Tuesday, May 12, Thomas and Sender will be speaking at Minneapolis’ Walker Art Center on the development of the Obama campaign in a panel called, “Designing Obama” — and Minnesota Independent editor Paul Schmelzer will be moderating the discussion. He’ll begin the evening by putting the campaign into historical context (how it differs from more traditional patriotic-themed campaigns by candidates like Bush, Gore and Clinton and from Obama’s 2008 challenger, Republican John McCain, whose design motif is reminiscent of a luxury car ad) and geographical context (how it played in the land of Jesse “the Body” ads and Paul Wellstone’s still omipresent green bumperstickers), before highlighting examples of creative re-use of the “O” logo.

In preparation, what would you like to ask Sender and Thomas? Got a critique or kudos for the campaign? Leave your thoughts in comments.

Tickets can be purchased here, or watch the event’s webcast live at the Walker Channel.

Earlier: Design with a big O: On developing Obama’s campaign identity

“Our goal is to end the Bush administration and not allow a third term for George W. Bush,” Dean said to thunderous applause. “We honor John McCain’s service to America, but he has served enough.”

Dean drew the biggest ovation of his speech for condemning the Bush administration’s Iraq policies. “Anybody who believes that the American people want to stay in Iraq for another 100 years under any circumstances is badly out of touch with what the American people want,” he said.

The former Vermont governor repeatedly linked McCain and Bush, at one point referring to them as “two peas in a pod.”

Dean repeated the DNC’s announcement this week that it will no longer accept donations from lobbyists or political action committees to bring it in line with the rules governing the Obama campaign. “The American people will set the priorities in the Obama administration, not special interests,” he said.

Dean also went out of his way to give a shout-out to the candidate that Obama finally defeated this week. “You have not heard the last of Hillary Rodham Clinton,” he declared.

The DNC chairman directed his harshest words at freshman Republican Rep. Michele Bachmann. “That’s not a right wing lunatic district,” he said of the 6th Congressional District. “That’s average hardworking Americans.”

After the speech was over, Dean was immediately whisked away and did not talk with reporters.