Swoosh

carolyn davidson, a graphic design student at portland state university, was paid $35 for 17.5 hours of work designing the nike logo in 1971 after phil knight, then an accounting instructor, overheard her saying she could not afford oil paints. knight needed a mark that conveyed motion and differentiated from adidas stripes, accepted davidson's swoosh on deadline saying "i don't love it, but it will grow on me," and the logo went into production immediately for blue ribbon sports' new shoe line. in september 1983, after nike went public, knight gave davidson 500 shares of stock at a company reception, a deferred equity grant that became her real compensation for the work.