Happy Birthday! Nike Swoosh!

Happy Belated Birthday Nike Swoosh! An amazing story behind the brand identity for one of the largest athletic footwear and clothing designers/manufacturers in the world.

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A simple check mark established itself as a timeless symbol on this Saturday some 40 years ago. With all the submissions in place, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office recognized the Nike Swoosh logo on June 18th, 1971. But what became the designer of this icon, who reportedly gotten only $35 for her effort? Reporter Allan Brettman of The Oregonian tracked down graphic designer Carolyn Davidson, who indeed only billed the company $35, or $2 per hour for 17.5 hours, for her work. An assistant professor at Portland State University and a part-time executive at Blue Ribbon Sports, Phil Knight’s chance meeting with Davidson, then a graphic designer major, landed her a freelance gig with Knight. After years of chart and presentation productions for Knight’s numerous meetings with Onitsuka Tiger of Japan, whose sneakers Blue Ribbon Sports distributed at the time. Knight asked Davidson to create something else, a logo. Disagreements between Knight and execs at Onitsuka made it clear he should create his own firm. But obstacles, especially the mammoth adidas, meant Knight needed something as symbolic as the 3-Stripe. That task went to Davidson.

Sketches after sketches, Knight and rest of the Blue Ribbon team – made up of Jeff Johnson and Bob Woodell, decided on a simple check mark with a curve, also Davidson’s favorite. Interestingly enough, Knight brushed at the Swoosh first, stated “…maybe it will grow on me.” So which came first? It was the Swoosh then the name “Nike”, at the suggestion of Nike’s very first employee, Jeff Johnson. And what of Davidson’s compensation? In 1983, Knight and Woodell held a surprise party for her at Nike’s office (captured on video). Along with a Swoosh-shaped gold ring, studded with a small diamond, Woodell presented Davidson a stock certificate of the company. Though till this day Davidson won’t disclose just how much shares she received at the time. A rough calculation reveals if Davidson held onto just a single share of Nike stock, which she said she did, from 1983 to now including all the stock splits, that one share will amount to $643,035. via: Oregonian..." - Freshness

via Freshness