1/ The globally iconic Nike Swoosh was created in 1971, after 17.5 hours of work, and only cost $35.
The artist who created this magic?
Carolyn Davidson.
This one design eventually made her a millionaire.
Here's a quick back story 🧵
The artist who created this magic?
Carolyn Davidson.
This one design eventually made her a millionaire.
Here's a quick back story 🧵
2/ Before creating the Nike Swoosh for Phil Knight, Carolyn Davidson was a struggling graphic designer student on the hunt for extra cash.
She was studying at Portland State University and struggling to make ends meet.
She was studying at Portland State University and struggling to make ends meet.
3/ Phil Knight was a professor at Portland State University while also running Blue Ribbon Sports.
He overhead Carolyn telling a fellow student that she didn't have enough money to take an oil painting class.
He overhead Carolyn telling a fellow student that she didn't have enough money to take an oil painting class.
4/ Later on, Knight approached her and asked her if she would be interested in doing some graphic work for his business.
She was offered $2 an hour and quickly accepted the offer.
At first, Davidson was doing various freelance work for Blue Ribbon Sports.
She was offered $2 an hour and quickly accepted the offer.
At first, Davidson was doing various freelance work for Blue Ribbon Sports.
5/ After some time, Knight decided to move away from being a US distributor for Japanese running shoes and wanted to launch his own shoe line.
Here, Nike was born.
In 1971, Knight asked Davidson to create a logo for his own shoe line.
Here, Nike was born.
In 1971, Knight asked Davidson to create a logo for his own shoe line.
6/ After 3 weeks, 17.5 hours, hundreds of doodles, and endlessly drawn logos on tissues thrown in the trash, Carolyn presented Knight with 5-6 different logos.
The first design he looked at?
The swoosh.
His response?
"I don't love it, but I think it will grown on me."
The first design he looked at?
The swoosh.
His response?
"I don't love it, but I think it will grown on me."
7/ Disappointed, Carolyn invoiced Knight for her time at a total of $35.
Soon after, she graduated college and continued to work for the next 4 years.
She eventually left Nike in 1975.
Soon after, she graduated college and continued to work for the next 4 years.
She eventually left Nike in 1975.
8/ Fast forward 8 years, and Nike went public.
Davidson, who had been disconnected from Nike for quite some time, now received an invitation to an executive dinner company.
The dinner was actually a surprise party thrown in her honor.
Davidson, who had been disconnected from Nike for quite some time, now received an invitation to an executive dinner company.
The dinner was actually a surprise party thrown in her honor.
9/ Here, Knight rewarded Davidson for creating one of the most famous logos in the world.
Davidson was given:
- A golden swoosh ring with an embedded diamond
- 500 shares of Nike stock
Nike's stock has since been split 6x, resulting in Davidson owning 32k shares.
Davidson was given:
- A golden swoosh ring with an embedded diamond
- 500 shares of Nike stock
Nike's stock has since been split 6x, resulting in Davidson owning 32k shares.
10/ Today, that's worth over $4 million.
To date, she hasn't sold any shares.
From a struggling graphic designer to creating the 4th most recognizable logo in the world.
To date, she hasn't sold any shares.
From a struggling graphic designer to creating the 4th most recognizable logo in the world.
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