Rolling Stones Logo, original artwork sold
September 3, 2008
rolling stones logo
This is a story about how student designers rarely make money from their work…they do it for the exposure. This is also a story about how designers rarely make money from designing for the music industry…they do it for the love of the band and the fun of the project…and the exposure.
But 38 years after the project was completed, John Pasche finally saw some real money from a logo design he did as a student in 1970: the lips and tongue icon for The Rolling Stones.
John Pasche was a student at London’s Royal College of Art when he created and sold the design to The Rolling Stones for 50 British pounds in 1970. The Stones used it first on their Sticky Fingers album of 1971. In 1972, they expressed their appreciation of the logo by giving Mr. Pasche another 200 pounds.
The logo, though, could have easily faded into obscurity after the Sticky Fingers album. It was The Stones branding savvy that kept the icon alive. They have used it continously and consistently ever since, making it one of the most recognizable music icons in the world.
That branding savvy, combined with Pasche’s savvy (or luck) to keep the original artwork in pristine condition, allowed Pasche to sell the original work to the Victoria and Albert Museum for 51, 375 British pounds ($92, 500 US) last week.
I guess you never really can throw anything away if your a designer, because theiir’s a chance you will make some money off of it before you’re dead.
Stumble it!
Tags: , Art, Branding, graphic design, John Pasche, logo, music, Rolling Stones, student design, Victoria and Albert Museum
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