NASA Honors Richard Danne, Designer of Iconic "Worm" Logo, with Exceptional Public Achievement Medal

Famed for remaking NASA's brand identity in the 1970s, Danne's "worm" logo became a global symbol of innovation and exploration; despite its retirement in 1992, it made a comeback in the late 2010s, marking key events including the return of human spaceflight on American rockets.

• Richard Danne, the designer of the iconic 'worm' logo for NASA, was awarded the Exceptional Public Achievement Medal for his outstanding achievement in creating the design and its impact on the agency's brand identity.
• The 'worm' logo, which debuted in the 1970s as part of the Federal Design Improvement Program, was retired in 1992 but made a comeback on merchandise in 2017 and was used again in 2020 to mark the return of human spaceflight on American rockets.
• Danne's New York agency, Danne & Blackburn, created the logotype and won major design awards, including the first Presidential Design Award in 1985.
• Offering a simplistic and innovative design, the NASA worm logo was praised by President Reagan and is now considered one of the most powerful symbols globally.
• Despite its retirement, the worm logo continues to complement NASA's current symbol, the 'meatball logo', making NASA one of the most recognizable brands in the world, inspiring future engineers, scientists, and innovators.

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