Air Jordan Logo: Soaring Beyond Sport into Iconic Culture

Like businesses, many logos come and go. And only a handful of brands and their logos manage to survive and transcend the decades to become symbols not only of a business but of a cultural generation or movement.

The Air Jordan Logo is one such logo that has achieved such a distinction.

One look at the silhouetted basketball player and people everywhere instantly recognize the logo as something that represents an athletic brand and a lifestyle.

Here at GraphicSprings our goal is always to bring you the best branding from the world of business. 

And that’s exactly why we’ve put together the following blog post about the Air Jordan logo and why it’s such an exciting emblem to inspire your next design.

The Origin Story Of The Air Jordan Logo

In the early 80s Nike landed a deal with a young man named Michael Jordan. 

He may have been a good player at the time. But nobody… Not Nike and not Jordan himself… Knew that he was a budding superstar. 

And even less known was the impact that both Jordan and Nike would have on the entire sports industry around the world.

Pro Tip

The Air Jordan logo doesn’t represent a business. It represents the essence of a brand. Its uniqueness. And what Nike wants people to think about when they see the logo. You too should strive to create a logo design that represents not only your business. But the spirit and ethos of your industry and the people who buy your products.

From Sneakers To Phenomenon

The very first pair of Air Jordan were created by fashion designer Peter Moore and released in 1985. The shoe design was impeccable but the logo was simple. It featured a silhouette of Jordan performing his famous “jumpman” pose. 

Over the years, Nike has changed its sneakers. They’ve added new features, materials and changed the overall shape of the shoe. But one thing has always remained the same: the iconic jumpman logo that has transcended from the world of sports and is now an emblem that’s recognized all around the world.

Pro Tip

Even if your brand grows and changes over the years it’s important to keep your branding the same which ensures it’s recognized by new and old customers or fans alike. Nike has changed its shoes but the Air Jordan basketball logo has always remained the same.

What Can We Learn From The Air Jordan Logo?

Whether you’re designing a logo for an athletic brand or any other type of business, you need to make design decisions that are aligned with the business and its target audience. Here are just a few of the lessons we can learn from the Air Jordan logo.

Action Can Be Powerful

The Air Jordan logo takes an action shot and freezes it in time. This is a powerful statement that shows a moment of energy and excitement and distills it into a logo that looks great.

Cultural Movements

Today the Air Jordan logo isn’t just a sports emblem. It’s an image, an icon that’s recognized well beyond its original intentions. It speaks of basketball. Yes. But it also represents athletic excellence, style and fashion.

Simplicity

A silhouette of a basketball mid-dunk is not by any means a complex design. But it’s the perfect image to represent basketball and the footwear that basketball players wear.

Don’t Forget The Fans

When designing logos you should also look for ways to connect with your target audience. Fans loved Michael Jordan’s playing style on the court. So by using him as a logo Nike formed a deeper and more meaningful connection with its audience.

Classic Designs Work

The Air Jordan logo is simple. And it’s often simple logos that make the most impact. Great logos don’t need to be complex or intricate. Simple designs are better at transcending through the years and becoming classic, timeless designs.

Storytelling

The Air Jordan logo doesn’t just represent basketball. It also tells the story of Jordan’s earth-defying talent and skill. You too should look for ways to design logos that express your brand’s story and personality. 

Design Versatility

Great logo designs need to be versatile and the Air Jordan logo is exactly that. It looks great on sneakers, jerseys, t-shirts, hats and anywhere else you might find a brand logo.

Brand Recognition

This logo is recognized all over the world even by people who don’t play basketball. This just goes to show you that a well designed logo really can build brand recognition beyond your industry or sector.

Creating Inspiration

The Air Jordan logo serves as a source of inspiration for young athletes. I mean for basketball players, who wouldn’t want to be able to do a slam dunk jumpman pose just like Jordan. The logo underscores the greatness that all athletes strive for.

Symbolism

All this goes to show you that a great logo should be infused with a sense of meaning and symbolism. Great logos don’t just represent a business. They represent a brand’s core identity, values and audience.

Going Beyond The Air Jordan Logo

Now you can see the Air Jordan logo is more than just an image. It’s an icon that represents a sport, a generation, a culture and an attitude that has influenced people around the world. 

They may not have known it when they signed with the young rookie but Nike unleashed a new era of athletic endorsements making it possible to turn athletes into global brands. And the hype continues today with new limited editions of Air Jordans being released which keeps the fire burning around this amazing brand.

Here are a few tips to help you design a logo as powerful as Air Jordan.

• Your brand – To design a great logo you must know your brand inside and out. Look at your brand’s products or service but also its core value, identity and goals.
• Fonts & colours – All elements in your logo must be in line with your brand’s personality to ensure a classic and timeless design.
• Simplicity – You should distill your logo into the simplest design possible which makes it easier for people to remember.
• Versatility – Simple designs also means your logo will be versatile and will look great wherever you decide to put it.

Whether you’re looking to design a brand logo from scratch or to rebrand an existing design, GraphicSprings is proud to offer custom logo design service and a logo maker tool that makes designing Air Jordan inspired logos as easy as possible.