Nike co-founder Phil Knight hired Carolyn Davidson in 1971 to design the iconic Swoosh logo for just $35. (Photo: Getty/PSU)
Carolyn Davidson, the graphic design student who created Nike’s iconic Swoosh logo for just $35 in 1971, received a gold ring featuring the Swoosh and 500 shares of Nike stock from co-founder Phil Knight in 1983.
Davidson’s association with Nike began in 1971, when Knight was running Blue Ribbon Sports, an Oregon-based business that distributed Japanese Onitsuka Tiger running shoes in the United States.
Where Davidson studied graphic design and Knight taught accounting, she initially worked with Knight on charts and graphs before being asked to design a stripe for a new running shoe, according to Portland State University. Knight approached her after overhearing her talking about being unable to afford an oil painting class, according to her recollection published by the university. Knight and his business partner, University of Oregon track coach Bill Bowerman, were preparing to launch their own line of footwear and needed a distinctive logo. Davidson was a graphic design student at Portland State University. He offered her design work, initially asking her to prepare charts and graphs for a presentation. You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test.