Did you know that the Nike logo, when created, cost only $ 35?

It all started when young Carolyn Davidson attended some classes from Phil Knight, who worked as an assistant professor of accounting at the University of Portland State. Knight was also a small business owner, at that time leading a company called Blue Ribbon Sports, the forerunner of Nike.

While Carolyn devoted herself to graphic design classes, she even commented with a friend about the material she needed to acquire and the lack of money to buy a discipline-specific ink. It was then that Knight approached and offered a job to the young student.

Internship

All Carolyn would need to do was some short-term graphic work, earning $ 2 an hour. And so she followed her "internship", working with graphics and related themes.

Some time had passed, Carolyn's internship was over, and Knight was considering pursuing his shoe business, but instead of just reselling, the businessman wanted to make his own brand and would need a logo. Who better to call than Carolyn? She accepted the job and the new business owner explained that she wanted an image that represented some kind of movement.

The designer's work took 17.5 hours, spread over three weeks, to complete, and then she presented six options to Knight and his two partners, Jeff Johnson (who would later suggest the name Nike) and Bob Woodell. His work was criticized by Knight, who considered it "below expectations." He asked for some time to think and said he would have to work on some ideas brought by the designer.

Recognition

It was then that she put a price on her work and received $ 35, the equivalent of $ 195 today. If you think this is a great injustice because of the proportions the brand has taken, be aware that the brand itself designer doesn't see the case that way. She says she made the price for her work at the time and she received it, so there's no injustice.

After graduating in 1971, she was able to work at Nike, where she stayed until 1975. From there, she got a lot of work due to her track record with the giant brand already known worldwide. In 1983, she received public recognition from Knight, who thanked her for the logo by presenting her with 500 company shares and a gold and diamond ring in the shape of the logo. She never touched the stock and the accumulated value to date is $ 500, 000. Happy ending?