People’s Graphic Design Archive

The Autobiography of Malcolm X

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 23:56:08 +0000

The Autobiography of Malcolm X as told to Alex Haley.

Illustrator Charles Lilly was a young artist and a recent graduate of the School of Visual Arts in New York when he painted perhaps his best-known artwork, the expressive psychological portrait of Malcolm X, the African American minister and human rights activist who became an influential figure during the civil rights movement. Originally painted for the May 1973 cover of Encore magazine, it was licensed the following year by Grove Press and later by Ballantine Books for the cover of the best-selling paperback edition of The Autobiography of Malcolm X (As Told to Alex Haley), which told the story of the activist’s life and the Black Muslim movement.
In the work’s central portrait, Lilly portrayed Malcolm X as “solid, very strong, and looking toward the future. Clouds within the composition reference the problems that he faced, but his mind is open,” Lilly said. “The sunlight beaming over his shoulder shows that there is hope, and the red, black, and green button means that he is liberated. Seen on the lower right is Harlem, where he would preach and teach.” Years later in 1992, a feature film based on the life of Malcolm X was directed and co-written by Spike Lee, and Lilly’s image appeared in the film’s credits.
Lilly has gone on to have a prestigious career as an award-winning illustrator and painter who has created artworks for many noted publishers, corporations, film and television companies, the U.S. Air Force, and the White House. It is his intention “that when African American children and adults…visit museums they will see realistic paintings documenting their importance in society, quiet as it has been kept.”

https://www.illustrationhistory.org/artists/charles-lilly

Atari '73

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 20:28:58 +0000

A very unexpected and abstract logo was presented during the year 1973. It consisted of a horizontal oval shape with an asymmetrical line going through it horizontally in the background. An ambiguous shape with sharp ends and corners resembled an “A” or the first letter of the brand’s name.

Atari '72

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 20:25:59 +0000

The new company name was done using a Busorama Bold font, modifying it only by mirroring the second “A”. The curved strokes added a touch of sophistication and intrigue. The “Atari” portion was the name printed using larger characters, while “Inc.” was done using a smaller font. The logo was done in black on a white background, giving it a classic and timeless look.

Berserk Manga cover

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 20:25:32 +0000

This manga created by Kentaro Miura, is a icon of the dark fantasy with a distinct graphic design that reflects its brutal tone. It was originally published in Japan in 1990 and later by Dark Horse Comics for North America. The artwork has heavy line work and extremely detailed, packed panels showing the style of early seinen manga. The image is heavily influenced by European Medieval art, dark fantasy films like Hellraiser (1987) and Excalibur (1981). The typography on the cover and spine is a metallic red and clean, yet ominous font that contrasts with the detailed, chaotic artwork given.

To The Lighthouse (Book Cover)

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 20:23:40 +0000

Book cover for the 1927 novel To The Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf Illustrated by Vanessa Bell. Vanessa Bells Illustration depicts an abstracted lighthouse illuminating the cover with waves beneath. Vanessa Bell was an early 1900s English painter famous for her post impressionist and abstract work.

Typografia

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 20:22:51 +0000

Oldřich Hlavsa worked primarily in publication design and typography and played a major part in Czech graphic design history. He designed over 2000 book covers and published a series of his own books related to typography. Explore related designers including Ladislav Sutnar and Karel Teige. See also Czech graphic design history, Magazines, and 1950s graphic design history. Typografia is a Czech typography and printing journal featuring technical articles and historic design. The magazine was first released in 1888 in Prague.

Stussy

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 20:22:07 +0000

So far, we've focused on corporate logos on this list. But the 1980s was also the decade in which the stuffed shifts no longer had a monopoly on culture, as urban subcultures based on the streets began to take over the world. And Stüssy, a fashion label founded in the early 1980s by Shawn Stussy, offers a great example of how this trend began to influence logo design.

Stüssy grew out of the surfwear trend originating in Orange County, California. Its logo originated in the early 1980s, when the eponymoyus founder scrawled his surname on handcrafted boards with a simple broad-tipped marker.

The signature itself was actually copied from that of his uncle, Jan. Stussy used the logo on T-shirts, shorts and caps that he sold out of his car around Laguna Beach, California. The brand later exploded after being adopted by the skateboard and hip-hop scenes, as well as punk and other subcultures.

"The Stüssy logo’s graffiti-style typography deeply resonates with me because it draws from the surf and skate roots," says Scott Hancock, CEO of BLVR. "I’ve always been drawn to the logo’s bold expression of individuality and counterculture. To me, it stands as a powerful testament to Stüssy’s belief that creativity and style audaciously challenge the status quo."

That said, this new movement wouldn't stay underground for long, eventually going from kicking against the mainstream to becoming the new mainstream.

"The 80s for me represents the rise of subculture: skateboarding, surfing, hip hop, and so on, each with its own visual language," remembers Clugston. "Vision, Psycho Sticks, the Mark Gonzales stuff: it’s all still burnt into my retina, and it's still really cool. Skateboarding imagery was all that we drew on; it was about going into a skateboarding shop and just drooling at the wall.

"The look of the 80s, with the neons and everything else, we were able to laugh at ourselves a little bit. In the 90s we rebelled against all of that neon, and visually we took ourselves so seriously, really grungy. Everything was cocky. And plaid."

Sega

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 20:21:35 +0000

Today, the battle of the gaming consoles is mainly a three-way fight between Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft. But back in the 1980s, there was another huge player: Japanese games brand Sega. Having made its name in arcade games, it launched the Sega Mega Drive in 1988 (known as the Genesis in the US), which would ultimately launch Sonic the Hedgehog, one of the most loved video game characters of all time. "The Sega Master System epitomised 80s video game culture, bringing R-Type, California Games and Double Dragon to home gamers worldwide," recalls James Kirkham, former designer and founder of Iconic. And the logo was suitably forward-thinking and sci-fi futuristic, neatly emulating the lines of code used to program the cutting-edge console. "This emotive 80s classic used a typeface by Japanese designer Teruoki Yagi, who also designed the logo for CNN," explains Kirkham. "The accompanying tightly-spaced, bookish serif fonts were commonly used in the 1980s for technology brands, most famously Apple."

Marlboro Cigarettes First logo

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 20:21:09 +0000

This original logo for Marlboro was made in 1924 and carried the brand for 4 years. Its design was a nameplate in all caps, with cigarettes in smaller letters. Both typefaces were the same-a custom, elegant serif font. Originally, Marlboro was positioned as luxury, so the first design was to emphasize elegance. Although this design didn't have a designer credited it was introduced by Philip Morris and the later logos revealed the designers were typically men. Kinda ironic since the original logo and brand was intended for women, which eventually became repositioned for men.

McDonalds

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 20:20:40 +0000

As we explain in the story behind the McDonald's logo, the fast-food giant has been around since the 1940 and its branding has a long and complex history. But it's arguably the 1983 logo which remains the most iconic. Not only is it a powerful symbol of the brand itself but more broadly of consumerism, American culture and confident capitalism. "The '83 logo was the first which incorporated what is now the unmistakable red square element," recalls Howlett. "They abandoned the browns and blacks of previous designs to bring together these standout colours – red, yellow and white – which have remained consistent to this day. It’s a great example of a simple but iconic logo which doesn’t need complexity to communicate its friendly and accommodating brand message."

Jumpman

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 20:18:55 +0000

If there's one logo that symbolises the renewed optimism of the 1980s era, it's Nike's 'Jumpman' logo for its Air Jordan line, depicting basketball superstar Michael Jordan in full flow. Sadly, the positive energy the design embues stands it contrast to the controversy over its creation. The silhouette is widely believed to have been inspired by photoshoot for Life magazine by then-student Jacobus Rentmeester shortly before the 1984 Olympic Games. Nike licensed the shot, but due to copyright issues, then decided to recreate it with another photographer. This second image was then used to draw the final emblem in 1988 by Tinker Hatfield, based on a sketch idea by Air Jordan creator Peter Moore. When Rentmeester complained, he says Nike paid him US$15,000 for a two-year, North America-only licence for posters and billboards. He then alleges it broke the terms of this agreement, and so he sued the company in 2015. However, the court found in Nike's favour, maintaining that the footwear giant didn't copy the photo but merely used it as inspiration. Legal arguments aside, the logo remains an iconic design that evokes a much-loved era of sporting greatness, and it remains one of the best sports logostoday. Scott Hancock, CEO at California-based branding agency BLVR, is among its fans today. "I admire the logo for its vivid capture of Jordan’s signature dunk," he says. "It’s a perfect symbol of the brand’s belief in defying limits and the power of audacious dreams. It merges unwavering determination with defiant style, embodying the pursuit of excellence that inspires me personally."

Pepsi

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 20:18:09 +0000

For decades, Coca-Cola had been undisputed as the leading brand of cola. But in the 1980s, things were much more evenly matched. Pepsi boosted its market share thanks to the 'Pepsi Challenge', which saw consumers blind-taste the two drinks, often finding they preferred Pepsi. Coke responded by launching 'New Coke', which was a huge disaster. And Pepsi's growing confidence was reflected in its new branding, including a logo redesign in 1987. "This revamped Pepsi logo gave the brand a modern and refreshing look, replacing the design which had been in place for over a decade," recalls Howlett. "It represented a larger strategy of continuous innovation that saw it stand out against its competitors, namely Coca-Cola who favours red. "It also came at a time when Pepsi sought to associate itself with the younger generation and their design language with wavy lines and bright colours," he adds. "For me, it fully portrayed a sense of fun and youthfulness, which allowed them to align with influential pop culture icons of time such as Michael Jackson and Madonna."

Halo: Combat Evolved

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 20:17:36 +0000

Designed and published by Bungie, Halo CE was a revolutionary title of it's time. Featuring a sci-fi universe in which humanity fights a hopeless war against a fanatic and brutal alien covenant. This title would go on to be the flagship game for Microsoft and Xbox for many years to come.

Halo's designs and ideas would go on and inspire many more works and become pivotal in many people's lives.

The cover art is straight forward and simple. It puts the player's character front and center, featuring a hint at what the game's story would be in the background. Allowing gamers to get the idea as soon as they pick up the case, sometimes even after just seeing the poster. Bungie deliberately put their best on display, featuring the very stylized sci-fi armor and weaponry front and center ensuring in game stores you would always be able to pick out halo from the many covers.

The cover engages with the viewer, looking straight at them, as if to say “I need you to play my game.” directly with whoever is looking at the cover.

BACK TO THE FUTURE

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 20:16:07 +0000

Ironically for a time-travel movie mainly set in the 1950s, Back to the Future remains one of the best-loved films of the 1980s today. While its sequel's depiction of 2015 never came true – we don't have flying cars powered by nuclear fusion – it's such a brilliantly scripted and energetically acted tale, who cares? Not to mention its terrific art direction (read my interview with John Bellfor more on that). The film was released in 1985, a year in which there was stiff competition from the likes of The Goonies, Rocky IV, Beverly Hills Cop, Police Academy 2, Rambo, Cocoon and other popular movies. So branding was everything, and thankfully the logo got everything right. The lettering was suitably sci-fi, the colours were fiery and exciting, and the linear gradient evoked the sense of forward motion that was crucial to a fast-moving action comedy. "Back to the Future is the place I got to when thinking about the 80s, and this also holds true of the film's logo," says David Nathan Davies, design director at Design by Structure. "Consisting of a tightly stacked set of words, it's skewed both backwards and forwards, instantly conjuring up the feeling of time warping. This so perfectly captures the central theme of the film; the more you look at it, the more you feel you’re being dragged back in time with it!" It might seem odd to a modern audience to feature a movie logo as one of the best of the decade. But as Ross Clugston, CCO of Design Bridge and Partners, explains, big screen entertainment was hugely dominant at a time before the internet, and when videogames were still a niche pursuit.

Lost In Space by Loox Studios

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 18:50:17 +0000

Lost in Space’s website offers an immersive experience that blends retro-futuristic design with modern web technologies. Its use of neon grids, pixelated fonts, and classic arcade game elements certainly evokes a sense of nostalgia for 80s sci-fi culture. Interactive features and engaging animations guide users through a space-themed adventure, capturing the essence of vintage gaming while providing a fresh, contemporary interface. It is a point-and-click adventure game designed as a spiritual "fourth season" to the 1960s Lost in Space TV series.

Brave New World Book Cover

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 18:42:47 +0000

Book cover for 1932 novel Brave new world illustrated by Leslie Holland for Aldous Huxley's dystopian novel. Though there were other covers made for this novel Hollands Illustration has remained as the primary and most famous cover for almost 100 years. The cover shows a plane flying over a mirrored and contrasting earth representing the dystopian setting of the Novel.