In honor of Valentine’s Day, we’d like to celebrate I ? NY, the most famous “heart” logo.
In honor of Valentine's Day, we'd like to celebrate I ♥ NY, the most famous "heart" logo. One of the most interesting aspects of Milton's Glaser's logo design is how he changed the heart from a noun about love to a verb that means love. In fact, in May of 2011, the heart symbol entered the Oxford English Dictionary:
"The heart sign has entered the Oxford English Dictionary as the first graphical symbol to signify a word in the reference work's 127-year history. Readers looking up the word “heart” will find the symbol listed as an entirely new usage, as a verb meaning “to love.” Perhaps the most famous example, which is included in the latest edition of the dictionary, is the New York tourism advertising slogan: I [heart] NY." Milton Glaser confirmed that, “The innovation of ‘I Heart NY’ was the transformation of a noun into a verb.” And then he added that, “this is scarcely observed.”
Milton Glaser created a logo whose visual symbol became a verb, and that is something we all can love. Source.
Let's take a look at the visual impact of I ♥ NY.
This is the original sketch by Milton Glaser, now part of the collection of The Museum of Modern Art.
This variation was created by the Vitrue Advertising agency.
We remember a comedian doing a bit about how all the symbols from playing cards were going to end up in slogans. Here are two of our favorites.
Other cities are getting into the act...Perhaps this was inspired by Tony Bennett when he left his heart in San Francisco, then the City of Angels finds a heart...or better yet Go Heart Your Own City!
Actor/comedian Robin Williams wears a T-shirt saying "I heart NY" in Arabic as he entertains the ENTERPRISE crew during a holiday special on board hosted by the United Service Organization (USO).
Milton Glaser created this variation to show support for NY after September 11th.
Can you really have too much love?
After all, this is the city where the tv show "Friends" took place.
The perfect way to express your love to a word-smith.
To hear more about I ♥ NY, check out WNYC's Brian Lehrer.
