Richard Danne | |
|---|---|
 Danne in 2012 | |
| Born | 1934 (age 90–91) |
| Occupation | Graphic designer |
| Notable work | NASA "worm" logotype |
| Awards | AIGA Medal, NASA Exceptional Public Achievement Medal |
Richard Danne (born 1934) is an American graphic designer who designed the 1975 NASA logotype, nicknamed the "worm", in collaboration with Bruce Blackburn. [1] [2] [3] [4] For his contributions to American design, Danne was awarded the 2014 AIGA Gold Medal. [5]
Danne was born in 1934 in Kingfisher, Oklahoma and grew up at a farm nearby. [5] He attended Oklahoma State University, initially majoring in engineering, before switching to art, and played jazz trumpet. [6] [7] In 1956, Danne enrolled in UCLA Graduate School of Design. Upon graduation, he started his design career in 1957 in Dallas, Texas, [8] before moving to New York City in 1963. [7] [9] [10] He co-owned design firms Gips & Danne with Phil Gips (1964–1969), Danne & Blackburn with Bruce Blackburn (1973–1984), [11] [5] and Richard Danne & Associates Inc. in 1985. [12]
Danne was the president of American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) in 1977–79. [8] He was also the founding president of AIGA/NY, the organization's New York chapter. [6]
Danne was the design director of NASA Graphic Standards Manual, [5] included in permanent collections of Museum of Modern Art [13] and SFMOMA. [14] In 2021, he designed a commemorative watch for NASA. [15] [16] In 2023, he was awarded NASA Exceptional Public Achievement Medal. [17] [18] In 2025, the NASA worm logo was included in Pirouette: Turning Points in Design, an exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art featuring "widely recognized design icons [...] highlighting pivotal moments in design history." [19] [20] [21]