The MTV logo wasn’t always an “M.”
Running into this old article on the origins of the MTV logo (designed by Manhattan Design: Pat Gorman, Frank Olinksky, Patti Rogoff) in my junk recently reminded me of the accidental process that “branding” is and how often the most successful stuff seems to have an innate intelligence that really isn’t there.
Sometimes I watch a great cartoon and marvel about how the creative team thought about something or other, or how smart they were to use the music a certain way, or how they must planned for the world domination they have.
And then I remember. It’s all an accident. Sure there’s talent, often there’s who knows whom, maybe the fix was in. But luck, never underestimate it.

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On February 8th, 2007 at 12:00 am
Ick! It looks like the logo for a Lite FM station or something. I’m glad they switched it.
On February 8th, 2007 at 12:00 am
They didn’t. I did. And, of course, I agree. But, you know, at the moment it looked OK. Just shows you what a little time and perspective can do.
On May 13th, 2008 at 9:11 pm
[…] Rogoff) and Corey & Co. But after we became known as the group who developed (not designed) the MTV logo, our reps were set in stone for a while. Eventually we were able to morph it into the idea of […]
On May 16th, 2008 at 11:45 pm
[…] music designers of the last 30 years (starting, most famously, with his co-design of the MTV logo). He selflessly went to work on whatever I asked him for, including this unreleased album cover for […]
On November 25th, 2008 at 10:29 am
[…] Kronos Quartet to Secret Machines. And, not at all incidentally, Frank was part of the team that designed the iconic MTV logo. Frank and I have been collaborating for too long to go into, but suffice it to say the first […]
On February 19th, 2009 at 7:10 pm
[…] a few of you know, I was an early employee at MTV, and a better ride was had by none. So, I’ve been kind of resistant to any kind of music […]