In an article posted on designweek.co.uk it seems that some are questioning whether the designer of the iconic Obama poster is a deserving winner of “Design of the Year.”

Fairey’s iconic Obama (HOPE) poster

According to the article:

Jonathan Ellery of Browns Design finds it ‘ridiculous’ that the posters won last week’s design accolade.

While praising the awards exhibition currently on show at the Design Museum, Ellery says, ‘If you know your points of visual and cultural reference, then the poster is merely stereotypical political ephemera, unworthy of such a prestigious award.’ He attributes the poster’s success at the Brit Insurance Design Awards to Obama’s Midas touch.

‘If you subtract the glorious politics, you are left with a very average piece of work that has been carried along on a pro-Obama wave of euphoria,’ Ellery adds.

Accusations of unoriginality have even run to a legal case against Fairey. The Associated Press is claiming compensation for the use of one of its photographs to create Fairey’s Hope and Progress images.

REALLY? If a design inspires others to copy it (obamicon me, for example)… it’s worthy.