Nike is one of the most popular international US-American vendor of sports goods. The company is based in Beaverton, Oregon. The German office is based in Groß-Gerau near Frankfurt, Hesse.

In 1962, Bill Bowerman (then a trainer at the University of Oregon) and Philip Knight (then a student at the University of Oregon and middle-distance runner trained by Bowman) founded the Blue Ribbon Sport company. They imported running shoes of the Japanese producer Onitsuka Tiger. In 1965, salesman Jeff Johnson (a runner at the University of Oregon) joined the team.

In the beginning, they sold the imported shoes at athletics contests from the trunk of their car. Only in 1972, they parted with their japanese manufacturer and started to develop their own shoe collections and other sports goods.

In 1971, they renamed the company to Nike (the greek goddess of victory), based on the suggestion of a co-worker.

The company's logo, the nike hook (or swoosh), is one of the world's best-known trade marks. At first, it was used in conjunction with the word Nike, but by now it is often used by itself.

The Nike logo was designed by (then) 28-year-old Carolyn Davidson, who studied graphic design at Portland State University. It symbolizes the wings of the greek goddess of victory Nike.

Philip Knight, who then worked at the university, approached Carolyn Davidson directly when he heard her tell a fellow student that she wanted to take a specific class but didn't have the money.

The assignment was to create a logo that conveys motion. Carolyn showed him some sketches, but he liked none of them.

Being pressed for time (because the sports shoe boxes had to go to press as soon as possible), he chose the Nike hook, even though he was very sceptical about it. "I can't say i love the logo, but maybe it'll grow fond of it."

At that time, nobody could forebode the worldwide fame of the simple nike-logo that was to come.

Today, lots of Americans have the swoosh tatooed to their bodies.

Carolyn received 35 Dollars for the design. She kept on working as a graphic designer for Jeff Johnson and Philip Knight for 2 dollars per hour, until the growing company needed a full-service-agency. 12 years later, in september 1984, Carolyn Davidson was invited to a staff meeting, where she would meet her old colleague Philip Knight. When she arrived, a reception was held, and she received a golden swoosh ring with a diamond, a certificate, and stock shares of nike.

The value of the shares is still rumoured about.

Today, Carolyn Davidson still lives in Portland, Oregon, is married, has two sons, and is a proud grandmother. After 29 years in the graphic sector, she retired and is involved with the social sector.

 

The evolution of the Nike logo from 1971 until today.