design::writings
emDesign designwritings photolog portfolio resume genealogy team in training dr leslie project
thoughts and observations about design, information architecture and design history
« Cool Cats! | Main | Arts Journal »

Friday 05|31|02
CBS Eye

Came across a post today that pointed me to a piece about the CBS Eye logo. (thanks scrubbles) The logo was designed by William Golden in 1951. It was designed for screen viewing and with motion in mind. This is quite interesting, because many times a logo or brand is designed first for letterhead or stationary system and it is only later adapted or force fit into other media and uses.

The CBS logo is a brilliant example of symbol design. It has withstood the test of time, of adaptation - color, line treatments, backgrounds etc - without diluting the strength of the mark. The piece also talks about Golden's inspiration for the mark from Shaker and Pennsylvania dutch symbols. Golden said, about his mark "It is used so often that it sometimes seems like a Frankenstein's monster to me, but I am grateful it is such a versatile thing that there seems to be no end to the number of ways it can be used without losing its identity."

Golden was influential in the design world by upgrading the role and responsibility of the designer within the corporate world. To learn more info about Golden and his work, there is a great book about Golden, that was put together by his wife Cipe Pineles after his death that covers his work and his career. The book is long out of print, but you can find it used - I have 2 copies from used book stores. You can also check out this short bio and work featured in the Agha issue of PM Magazine.

Posted by erin at 06:01 PM | in History

Comments

The fact that CBS has been able to use the same logo for 50 years while NBC and ABC have both altered their identity many times.

I can think of only one other logo that has held for so long, or perhaps longer; Coca Cola.

Posted by Greg at June 5, 2002 07:41 PM
...................................................

...................................................
EM Design is home to the resume and portfolio of Erin Malone.
site updated every now and then :: copyright 1995-2020 Erin K. Malone
view by category
AIGA
Amazon
AOL
Books
Community
Conference Review
Conferences
Criticism
El Lissitzky
Event
Graphic Design
Herbert Bayer
History
Information Architecture
Information Design
Interaction Design
Magazines
Patterns
People
Sites of Note
Techniques
Theory
Timelines
Typography
User Centered Design
William Golden
Yahoo!

view by month
February 2008
August 2006
June 2006
May 2006
April 2006
March 2006
February 2006
December 2003
October 2003
September 2003
August 2003
July 2003
June 2003
May 2003
April 2003
March 2003
February 2003
January 2003
December 2002
November 2002
October 2002
September 2002
August 2002
July 2002
June 2002
May 2002
April 2002
March 2002
February 2002
January 2002
December 2001
November 2001
October 2001
September 2001
August 2001
July 2001
June 2001
May 2001
April 2001
March 2001
February 2001

articles
DUX—Five Lessons Learned

Coloring Outside the Lines

Modeling the Creative Organization

Coming of Age

Talking With Jesse James Garrett

The Tool Makes the (Wo)man

AIGA Experience Design Summit #5 - Recap

AIGA Experience Design - past, present and future: An interview with Terry Swack and Clement Mok

Summit Beginnings: Saturday

Chicken Run: Summit Closing: Sunday

design history articles
Foreseeing the future: The legacy of Vannevar Bush

Learning from the Powers of Ten