Who designed the Nike logo? Carolyn Davidson, a graphic design student at Portland State University, designed the Nike “Swoosh” logo.
Nike co-founder Phil Knight hired Davidson to create a logo for the company in 1971, and she came up with the now-famous Swoosh design. The wing of the goddess Nike, the goddess of victory in ancient Greek mythology, inspired the logo. The Swoosh has since become one of the most recognized and iconic logos in the world, and it has helped to build the Nike brand into a global powerhouse.
Who is Carolyn Davidson?
Carolyn Davidson was a graphic design student at Portland State University in the 1970s when Nike co-founder Phil Knight hired her to create a logo for the company. She came up with the now-famous Swoosh design, which has since become one of the most recognized and iconic logos in the world.
Davidson worked for Nike for several years before leaving the company in the 1980s.
Despite her contributions to the company, she received $35 for designing the Nike logo and a few shares of Nike stock as payment for her work. However, she has remained a part of the Nike family and has received recognition for her contributions to the company’s success.

Founder of WhoDesignToday.com in 2011 as a design blog and now reinvented as an open-source community answering questions of who designed what. Gareth is an avid fan of history, design, technology, and reading.