Want to learn the best logo designers ever? From Milton Glaser to Paul Rand, take a look at some of the most famous and influential logo designers of all time.
Logo design has come a long way in the past century, and these designers have been at the forefront of the industry, shaping how we think about branding and identity. Learn about their backgrounds, their design philosophies and some of their most famous creations!
24 Best Logo Designers of All Time and Their Most Famous Logo Designs
You might be wondering why you should bother reading about the top 24 most famous logo designers of all time. After all, you’re not a graphic designer and you’re not in the market for a new logo. But even if you’re not planning to hire a logo designer anytime soon, there are still plenty of reasons to learn more about them.
For one, logo design is an interesting and fascinating art form. And for another, understanding the principles that these designers use can help you better understand how to create or select a good logo for your business.
So without further ado, let’s take a look at the 24 best logo designers of all time and some of their most famous logo designs.
1. Paul Rand
One of the most famous and influential logo designers of all time is Paul Rand. He was born in 1914 in New York City and started his career as an art director at the age of 17. Rand is best known for his iconic logos, including those for IBM, UPS and Westinghouse. He was also one of the first graphic designers to promote the use of minimalism in logo design.
2. Milton Glaser
Milton Glaser is another highly respected and well-known logo designer. He was born in 1929 in New York City and is most famous for his designs for the I Love New York campaign and the CBS eye logo. Glaser is also a prolific artist and designer, and has created paintings, posters, furniture and even typefaces.
3. David Ogilvy
David Ogilvy was born in 1911 in Surrey, England and is considered one of the fathers of advertising. He founded his own advertising agency, Ogilvy & Mather, in 1948 and is known for his approach to advertising that focuses on facts and data rather than emotion. Ogilvy is also the creator of some of the most famous logos in history, including those for Rolls-Royce, Schweppes and Dove.
4. Ivan Chermayeff
Ivan Chermayeff was born in 1932 in London, England. He co-founded the design firm Chermayeff & Geismar with Tom Geismar in 1955 and is known for his modern and simple designs. Some of Chermayeff’s most famous logos include NBC, Chase Bank and PBS.
5. Herb Lubalin
Herb Lubalin was born in 1918 in New York City and is considered one of the pioneers of graphic design. He worked as an art director at several magazines throughout his career, including Esquire, Harper’s Bazaar and Avant Garde. Lubalin is best known for his experimental typography and his unique approach to logo design. His most famous logos include those for CBS Records, A&P and United Airlines.
6. Massimo Vignelli
Massimo Vignelli was born in 1931 in Milan, Italy and is another highly respected designer. He co-founded the design firm Vignelli Associates with his wife Lella in 1966 and is known for his minimalist designs. Some of Vignelli’s most famous creations include the New York subway map and the logo for American Airlines.
7. April Greiman
April Greiman was born in 1948 in Michigan and is one of the most influential female graphic designers of all time. She is best known for her experimental designs and her use of new technologies in her work. Greiman has designed posters, magazines, books and even software interfaces. Her most famous logos include those for Citibank and Atari.
8. Seymour Chwast
Seymour Chwast was born in 1931 in New York City and is another highly respected graphic designer. He co-founded the design firm Push Pin Studios with Milton Glaser in 1954 and is known for his pop art designs. Some of Chwast’s most famous logos include those for The New York Times, IBM and Bloomingdale’s.
9. Salvador Dalí
Salvador Dalí was born in 1904 in Spain and is a painter and graphic designer who is considered to be one of the most influential artists of the 20th century. He is best known for his surrealist paintings, which often featured strange and dreamlike images. In 1969, Dalí designed the logo for Chupa Chups, which is still in use today. The logo is a simple design that features the company’s name written in a playful font.
10. Michael Wolff
Michael Wolff is a graphic designer and art director who was born in 1937 in London, England. He is best known for his work on the book jacket designs for authors like James Baldwin and Toni Morrison. Wolff is also the creator of some of the most famous logos in history, including those for The Guardian, Time Out and The Observer.
11. Stefan Sagmeister
Stefan Sagmeister was born in 1962 in Austria and is a graphic designer and typographer. He founded the design firm Sagmeister & Walsh with Jessica Walsh in 1999 and is known for his experimental designs. Some of Sagmeister’s most famous logos include those for HBO, The Rolling Stones and Prada.
12. Paula Scher
Paula Scher was born in 1941 in New York City and is a graphic designer who has worked for several high-profile brands, including CBS, Citibank and Tiffany & Co. Scher is best known for her unique approach to logo design that combines typography and illustration. Her most famous creations include the logo for the Public Theater and the branding campaign for NYC tourism.
13. David Airey
David Airey is a graphic designer and author who was born in 1969 in Northern Ireland. He is best known for his book “Logo Design Love”, which is a guide to creating effective logo designs. Airey has also designed logos for brands like Microsoft, Nokia and Audi.
14. Carolyn Davidson
Carolyn Davidson was born in 1943 in Oregon and is a graphic designer who is best known for her work with Nike. In 1971, she designed the now-iconic Nike Swoosh logo for just $35. Davidson has also designed logos for brands like Intel and Starbucks.
15. Frank Mason Robinson
Frank Mason Robinson was born in 1876 in Ohio and is a graphic designer who is considered to be one of the pioneers of modern advertising. He was the first person to use advertising to sell products to women and is the founder of the design firm F.M. Robinson Co., which is considered to be one of the first design firms to specialize in advertising. Robinson’s most famous creations include the logos for Coca-Cola and Pepsi.
16. Rob Janoff
Rob Janoff was born in 1957 in Illinois and is a graphic designer who is best known for his work on the Apple logo. In 1977, he designed the now-famous apple with a bite taken out of it for just $200. Janoff has also designed logos for brands like Pepsi and Chevron.
17. Alan Fletcher
Alan Fletcher was born in 1931 in Australia. He is the founder of the design firm Fletcher Design and is considered to be one of the pioneers of modern graphic design. Some of Fletcher’s most famous creations include the logos for IBM, Shell and British Airways.
18. Sagi Haviv
Sagi Haviv was born in 1978 in Israel. He is a partner at the design firm Chermayeff & Geismar & Haviv, which is considered to be one of the most prestigious design firms in the world. Some of Haviv’s most famous creations include the logos for Chase, NBC and Cartier.
19. Saul Bass
Saul Bass was born in 1920 in New York City and is a graphic designer who is best known for his work on motion picture titles and corporate branding. He is considered to be one of the pioneers of modern graphic design and is responsible for creating some of the most iconic designs in history. Some of Bass’s most famous creations include the logos for AT&T, United Airlines and Warner Bros.
20. Tom Geismar
Tom Geismar was born in 1929 in New York City. He is the co-founder of the design firm Chermayeff & Geismar & Haviv, which is considered to be one of the most prestigious design firms in the world. Some of Geismar’s most famous creations include the logos for Mobil, Chase and NBC.
21. Lindon Leader
Lindon Leader was born in 1956 in Utah and is the founder of the design firm Leader Creative. He is best known for his work on the FedEx logo, which he designed in 1994. Leader has also designed logos for brands like Pizza Hut, KFC and Taco Bell.
22. Tinker Hatfield
Tinker Hatfield was born in 1951 in Oregon and is a designer at Nike. He is best known for his work on the Nike Air Jordans, which he designed between 1985 and 1990. Hatfield has also designed other sneakers for brands like Adidas and Reebok.
23. Michael Bierut
Michael Bierut was born in 1957 in Ohio and is a partner at the design firm Pentagram. He is considered to be one of the most influential graphic designers of his generation and has designed logos for brands like American Express, Hillary Clinton and MTV.
24. James Modarelli
In 1956, James Modarelli was born in Massachusetts and is a graphic designer who is best known for his work on corporate branding. In 1994, he was given the task to redesign the iconic Nasa logo. Modarelli’s design was inspired by the shapes and patterns of a spacecraft. He incorporated elements like stars and planets into the logo, which gave it a more futuristic look.
Graphic design has come a long way in the past century, and these designers have been at the forefront of the industry, shaping how we think about branding and identity. Each of them has made a significant contribution to the field of graphic design and have helped to shape the way we think about branding and identity.