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The History of the $35 Nike Logo

Nike Swish Icon Logo Design


This week marks the 40th anniversary of the creation of the Nike logo. You’ve probably heard the story before.

Earlier this week NPR host Michelle Norris did a short story on how it all happened. It’s worth a listen. (Click here to listen or read the transcript.)

Not knowing how much she should charge, Carolyn Davidson, the designer who created the now famous swoosh (it’s a stylized wing), asked for $35.

Today it’s one of the best-known logos in the world.

Amazing.

Phil Knight, Nike’s founder, didn’t go to a big ad agency or design firm to get his logo. As a struggling entrepreneur, he did the best that he could with the resources he had. Then he poured everything he had into making the logo memorable.

If you’re starting a business, you can probably relate.

It’s still possible to get a great logo for a reasonable price. But you’re at Logomaker, so you already know that.

Incidentally, the waffle iron used to create those first shoes was recently discovered in a box of old shoes. Check out that story here.