Who designed Nike’s original Swoosh logo in 1971?

Carolyn Davidson designed Nike’s original Swoosh logo in 1971.

Davidson was a graphic design student at Portland State University when she created the mark for Blue Ribbon Sports, the company that became Nike. The simple curved shape was intended to suggest motion and was influenced by the appearance of a wing.

The Swoosh is sometimes mistakenly credited to later Nike designers such as Peter Moore or Tinker Hatfield. Moore designed important footwear, including the Air Jordan 1, while Hatfield became famous for influential Air Max designs; neither created the original Swoosh.

Davidson was initially paid a modest fee for the design. Nike later recognized her contribution with additional compensation and a gift of company stock, although the exact details are often simplified in popular retellings.