If you haven’t heard of Steven Noble before, you most certainly have heard of some of his work: he illustrated the back of the one dollar bill; he is the illustrator who was hired to redraw the White House for its most recent logo refresh; he is the artist behind American Express’ centurion/gladiator illustration, famously used on the company’s initial cards and nowadays on the mythical Centurion Card (unlimited balance, invitation only it seems).
His highly disciplined and complex line work is using X-Acto precision knives carved into pre-inked clay boards which generate very fine line strokes which allow a versatility in the detail from bold woodcuts to very fine traditional 19 century steel engravings. The resulting logos are complex and stunningly detailed, works of art in a world that more and more bows to convenience.
His work spans way more than logo design – annual reports, illustrations, engravings, etc. Some of them can be bought off his website. But for now, here are some beautiful logos for your inspiration (go buy those X-Actos!)
SLS Hotel
White House
Read more about the White House logo redesign process.