The History of the $35 Nike Logo

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.