Bruce Blackburn (June 2, 1938—February 1, 2021) was an American graphic designer, who was a designer of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) logo and the American Revolution Bicentennial star.[1]
Bruce Nelson Blackburn was born in Dallas on June 2, 1938, to Ruby (Caraway), a real estate agent, and Buford Blackburn, an electrical engineer. The couple also had a daughter, Sandra. Blackburn grew up in Evansville, Indiana during which he pursued his interests in music and art.[1] In 1961, he graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in design from the University of Cincinnati.[1] He served as a communications officer in the Navy. In 1979, he married Tina Harsham and they had a daughter and two sons.[1]
Blackburn worked for Chermayeff & Geismar, a design firm in New York, by the late 1960s.[1] In 1974, Blackburn was a designer, with his partner Richard Danne, of the 1976 NASA logo, also known as the "worm" for the shape of the red letters that make up the logo[1][2] for astronaut's uniforms.[3] Their design firm, Danne & Blackburn, was located in the state of New York.[1] The worm logo has been used as a logo for NASA and the Orion spacecraft.[4]
He also created the symbol for the American Revolution Bicentennial celebration,[1] using two stars (blue and red) to represent the multiple centuries with curved points for a less militaristic image than an outline of sharp points.[3] It was used on a 1971 special issue postage stamp, as well as letterhead, tax returns, products,[5] flags, and trains.[6] In 1978, he was a seminar professor at the school of design at the University of Cincinnati.[6]
He established his own design firm, Blackburn & Associates in New York City in the 1980s. In the mid-1980s, he was president of the American Institute of Graphic Arts. He was awarded the Presidential Design Award by Ronald Reagan in 1984.[1] In 2016, a short documentary Blackburn told of his work on the logo and his career that spanned over 40 years.[1]
Referencesedit
^ abcdefghijklmVadukul, Alex of New York Times (February 20, 2021). "Bruce Blackburn, design of NASA logo, bicentennial star". The Buffalo News. p. 15. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
^Beach, Charlotte (November 15, 2023). "NASA Celebrates the Worm Logo Designer, Richard Danne". Print magazine.
^ ab"Artist Bruce Blackburn, 37, Airs Bicentennial Symbol". The Marion Star. August 12, 1975. p. 2. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
^Chang, Kenneth of The New York Times (December 14, 2023). "How a Space Agency Learned to Love 4 Squirmy Letters". Citizens' Voice. p. B7. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
^Robinson, Angela (August 13, 1975). "The 'Fat Star' -- From Tax Forms to Beer Mugs". Newsday (Suffolk Edition). p. 11.
^ abcLang, Tony (May 21, 1978). "Good Design Spreading After All". The Cincinnati Enquirer. p. 138. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
April 18, 2024
bruce, blackburn, comicbook, character, list, quality, comics, characters, june, 1938, february, 2021, american, graphic, designer, designer, national, aeronautics, space, administration, nasa, logo, american, revolution, bicentennial, star, born, 1938, june, . For the comicbook character see List of Quality Comics characters Bruce Blackburn June 2 1938 February 1 2021 was an American graphic designer who was a designer of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration NASA logo and the American Revolution Bicentennial star 1 Bruce BlackburnBorn 1938 06 02 June 2 1938Dallas IndianaDiedFebruary 1 2021 2021 02 01 aged 82 Arvada ColoradoOther namesBruce N BlackburnBruce Nelson BlackburnOccupationGraphic designerNotable workNASA logo and the American Revolution BicentennialPersonal and military life editBruce Nelson Blackburn was born in Dallas on June 2 1938 to Ruby Caraway a real estate agent and Buford Blackburn an electrical engineer The couple also had a daughter Sandra Blackburn grew up in Evansville Indiana during which he pursued his interests in music and art 1 In 1961 he graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in design from the University of Cincinnati 1 He served as a communications officer in the Navy In 1979 he married Tina Harsham and they had a daughter and two sons 1 Bruce Blackburn lived during his later years in Santa Fe New Mexico and Lakewood Colorado He died on February 1 2021 in Arvada Colorado 1 Graphic designer edit nbsp NASA worm logo by Bruce Blackburn and Richard Danne nbsp Orion Artemis IBlackburn worked for Chermayeff amp Geismar a design firm in New York by the late 1960s 1 In 1974 Blackburn was a designer with his partner Richard Danne of the 1976 NASA logo also known as the worm for the shape of the red letters that make up the logo 1 2 for astronaut s uniforms 3 Their design firm Danne amp Blackburn was located in the state of New York 1 The worm logo has been used as a logo for NASA and the Orion spacecraft 4 nbsp American Revolution Bicentennial symbolHe also created the symbol for the American Revolution Bicentennial celebration 1 using two stars blue and red to represent the multiple centuries with curved points for a less militaristic image than an outline of sharp points 3 It was used on a 1971 special issue postage stamp as well as letterhead tax returns products 5 flags and trains 6 In 1978 he was a seminar professor at the school of design at the University of Cincinnati 6 Blackburn created logos for the Museum of Modern Art Mobil IBM 1 Champion Paper RCA and other organizations 6 like the Department of Transportation and Army Corps of Engineers 1 He established his own design firm Blackburn amp Associates in New York City in the 1980s In the mid 1980s he was president of the American Institute of Graphic Arts He was awarded the Presidential Design Award by Ronald Reagan in 1984 1 In 2016 a short documentary Blackburn told of his work on the logo and his career that spanned over 40 years 1 References edit a b c d e f g h i j k l m Vadukul Alex of New York Times February 20 2021 Bruce Blackburn design of NASA logo bicentennial star The Buffalo News p 15 Retrieved February 28 2024 Beach Charlotte November 15 2023 NASA Celebrates the Worm Logo Designer Richard Danne Print magazine a b Artist Bruce Blackburn 37 Airs Bicentennial Symbol The Marion Star August 12 1975 p 2 Retrieved February 28 2024 Chang Kenneth of The New York Times December 14 2023 How a Space Agency Learned to Love 4 Squirmy Letters Citizens Voice p B7 Retrieved February 28 2024 Robinson Angela August 13 1975 The Fat Star From Tax Forms to Beer Mugs Newsday Suffolk Edition p 11 a b c Lang Tony May 21 1978 Good Design Spreading After All The Cincinnati Enquirer p 138 Retrieved February 28 2024 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bruce Blackburn amp oldid 1211498703, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
