Manhattan Design
Encyclopedia
Manhattan Design was a graphic design collective in New York City from 1979 until 1991. The studio is known for having designed the MTV logo, as well as album packaging, posters, books, and magazines. They also conceived the adaptation of the MTV "moon man" as the award for the MTV Video Music Awards
.
Partners Pat Gorman, Frank Olinsky, and Patti Rogoff met at the Arica Institute, where they worked in the in-house design department. They founded Manhattan Design in 1979, opening their first office in a tiny room in the back of a t'ai chi studio in Greenwich Village.
Late in 1980, before the channel had been formally named (it was originally called "The Music Channel" after its sister network, The Movie Channel
), MTV creative director Fred Seibert
approached the team to design the network's logo. He had known Olinsky since childhood, and Olinsky had designed record covers for Seibert's company Oblivion Records
in 1975. Manhattan Design created hundreds of preliminary designs , but when the 'MTV' name was chosen, partner Gorman sketched out the now familiar "M" in a bold 3-d sans serif, a "new wave" style "TV" was added by Olinsky, and the design was presented to the network. Seibert and partner Alan Goodman
wanted the "TV" redesigned, and Olinsky took a large version of the "M" into the studio stairwell, spray painted a graffiti-style "TV" on it, and presented it, paint drips and all, to the network.
After the logo was approved, the partners were asked to come up with the "corporate colors" for the logo. A revolutionary decision was made: there wouldn't be any corporate colors. The "M" and the "TV" could be could be made of anything at all. The influence of the MTV logo's chameleon-like look can be seen today.
As a result of their association with MTV, Manhattan Design became highly sought after for all sorts of "hip" design projects, working with such notables as The B-52s, The Cars, Billy Idol, Duran Duran, R.E.M., Sting, 10,000 Maniacs, Suzanne Vega, and others.
When Manhattan Design closed up shop in 1991, Patti Rogoff was hired to work in-house for the MTV Networks
Creative Services group, Frank Olinsky went on to become a leading designer of album packages, and Pat Gorman became an acupuncturist.
MTV Video Music Awards
An MTV Video Music Award , is an award presented by the cable channel MTV to honor the best in music videos...
.
Partners Pat Gorman, Frank Olinsky, and Patti Rogoff met at the Arica Institute, where they worked in the in-house design department. They founded Manhattan Design in 1979, opening their first office in a tiny room in the back of a t'ai chi studio in Greenwich Village.
Late in 1980, before the channel had been formally named (it was originally called "The Music Channel" after its sister network, The Movie Channel
The Movie Channel
The Movie Channel is an American premium channel owned by Showtime Networks, Inc., a subsidiary of CBS Corporation, which shows mostly movies, as well as special behind-the-scenes features, softcore adult erotica and movie trivia....
), MTV creative director Fred Seibert
Fred Seibert
Frederick "Fred" Seibert is a television and film producer and entertainment entrepreneur who owns Frederator Studios, and who has held leading positions with MTV Networks, Hanna-Barbera, and Next New Networks; he owns Frederator Studios...
approached the team to design the network's logo. He had known Olinsky since childhood, and Olinsky had designed record covers for Seibert's company Oblivion Records
Oblivion Records
Oblivion Records was an American independent record label that focused on under recorded blues and jazz musicians. The company was based in Huntington, New York and New York City and a post office box in Roslyn Heights, New York from 1972–1976....
in 1975. Manhattan Design created hundreds of preliminary designs , but when the 'MTV' name was chosen, partner Gorman sketched out the now familiar "M" in a bold 3-d sans serif, a "new wave" style "TV" was added by Olinsky, and the design was presented to the network. Seibert and partner Alan Goodman
Alan Goodman
Alan Goodman has played a key role in creating and launching many media brands since 1981, first in cable television and now for the internet and other platforms....
wanted the "TV" redesigned, and Olinsky took a large version of the "M" into the studio stairwell, spray painted a graffiti-style "TV" on it, and presented it, paint drips and all, to the network.
After the logo was approved, the partners were asked to come up with the "corporate colors" for the logo. A revolutionary decision was made: there wouldn't be any corporate colors. The "M" and the "TV" could be could be made of anything at all. The influence of the MTV logo's chameleon-like look can be seen today.
As a result of their association with MTV, Manhattan Design became highly sought after for all sorts of "hip" design projects, working with such notables as The B-52s, The Cars, Billy Idol, Duran Duran, R.E.M., Sting, 10,000 Maniacs, Suzanne Vega, and others.
When Manhattan Design closed up shop in 1991, Patti Rogoff was hired to work in-house for the MTV Networks
MTV Networks
MTV Networks is a division of media conglomerate Viacom that oversees the operations of many television channels and Internet brands, including the original MTV channel in the United States...
Creative Services group, Frank Olinsky went on to become a leading designer of album packages, and Pat Gorman became an acupuncturist.