Who designed AC/DC's lightning-bolt logo in 1977?

Gerard Huerta designed AC/DC’s lightning-bolt logo in 1977. The American typographer created the distinctive lettering for the band’s visual identity, with the bolt separating “AC” from “DC” to echo the electrical meaning of the name.

The design first appeared on the cover of the 1977 album Let There Be Rock. Huerta’s lettering drew inspiration from the typeface used in the Gutenberg Bible, giving the logo its sharp, monumental appearance. It became the enduring version associated with the band, although earlier AC/DC releases used different lettering treatments.

A common mix-up is to credit the logo to a rock-album cover artist or to confuse it with the artwork of Storm Thorgerson, Roger Dean, or Peter Saville. Huerta’s work extended beyond AC/DC: he also designed identities and lettering for artists, magazines, and companies, including Time and HBO. The lightning bolt itself is a visual separator, not a reference to a separate band symbol or album title.