+ + + + LOGO R.I.P. + + + +

I'm sorry to tell you that Don Ervin, the designer of the Transamerica logo, died on March 11, following an auto accident in the Hudson River Valley. I worked with him on updating the corporate identity of Time Inc. in 1983 and we remained friends ever since. He was a legendary graphics designer and a man of wit and great heart.
Louis Slovinsky, retired
Saturday, March 13, 2010 12:23

I saw this logo on a truck once.
Ben Ballard, Mental Retardedness Entertainment
Sunday, June 15, 2008 00:55

Too bad that "UA Swoosh" and the "Shining Light" plaster 75% of all Transamerica T appearances. The fanfare is very rare. Give yourself a pat on the back the next time you pop in a Magnetic Video tape and see this WITH the fanfare. Good luck!
HIX, Hix Associates
Thursday, March 06, 2008 19:49

Don was my boss back in the George Nelson Era, this logo is a classic Don Ervin design. Clean and simple and directly yo the point. Don is a master.
tony zamora, zamora group
Tuesday, January 29, 2008 19:51

I always liked the logo coming up one line at a time and then moving to the left side as the "United Artists - Entertainment from Transamerica Corpration" would appear (or at least that's how I remember it). I also miss the old Warner Bros logo where the "W" comes right at you & goes though you . I think that one passed on about the same time, too.
Roger
Friday, April 28, 2006 17:46

For me the Transamerica T and tagline is 70s movies. Has to be Bond and it has to be Diamonds are Forever. RIP.
Tim
Thursday, February 09, 2006 23:50

Sorry to see this classic logotype go. I too am a graphic designer and I worked with Don Ervin at George Nelson and at Siegel & Gale. But don't despair!! The UA logo lives on and endures, transcending time like any well-designed visual image.
Scott Bolestridge, kott/bolestridge
Thursday, December 22, 2005 03:21

If you watch the TVS television logo from the UK, its quite blatantly clear where they (TVS) got their inspiration from.
Rob, n/a
Saturday, October 15, 2005 13:14

Ah, yes...Of the many UA logos (and I've liked most of them), this one is still my favorite...YELLOW SUBMARINE, SLEEPER, IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT...brings back memories. If you can find the early laserdisc version of LET IT BE (good luck!), it features the animated UA logo at the beginning.
James
Wednesday, October 12, 2005 00:39

Hello - I'm trying to find a video clip download of the 1970 era "Blooming" Transamerica Blue T Flower like the one that originally preceded the James Bond movie Diamonds Are Forever. Does anyone know where or if I could find this? Thanks.
John Watson
Saturday, August 13, 2005 03:40

This logo is so Seventies. And it worked beautifully! The one thing about great logos--they may seem ugly at first, but once you get used to them and then they're replaced, you'll treasure what made them so wonderful.
Claxton
Tuesday, May 24, 2005 02:33

I sorry to see this leave but life is always changing. I am proud of my fathers work.
Aaron Gooday-ervin
Thursday, November 11, 2004 16:27

i think this logo is really ugly. it feels completely static, and manages to be simultaneously busy and meaningless. in Logo Heaven this one's sitting stiffly with the ultra-linear Prudential logo from the same era.
scose
Wednesday, September 15, 2004 01:50

(to Dean below)... yes, you are right about the Transamerica connection - I just read it in the book 'Logo RIP'... :)
James Fowler, sCOPE, Dublin
Thursday, September 09, 2004 23:28

For those of you who live under rocks or come from other planets,the United Artists 'Blue T Flower' was more known as the 'Transamerica T' since UA was under the auspices of Transamerica at that time (one interesting sidebar:the Transamerica Tower still stands in the heart of San Francisco CA,but it looks nowhere near its Blue Flower logo of yore;it looks more like a pyramid with anorexia....)
Dean, n/a
Wednesday, August 18, 2004 04:35

This wasn't just a logo for UA, but the entire Transamerica company, even the airline.
Jimmy Sanders
Tuesday, June 01, 2004 21:36

Another GREAT IDENTITY by DON ERVIN.One of THE GREAT IDENTITY DESIGN GODS of our TIME. DON ERVIN whom created the IDENTITIES for Transamerica and United Artist for Sandgren and Murtha. Formerly known as Murtha DeSola Finsilver Fiore. Currently THE DeSola Group. At the same time, DON ERVIN created Identities for MetLife, Cargill, Berol, TRW, MELLON BANK, Deloitte Haskins and Sells. To name just a few. DON ERVIN, began his career at Legendary Industrial Design Consultancy of GEORGE NELSON. Later DON ERVIN worked in Design Management at Sandgren & Murtha. And Lengendary Lippincott & Margulies. Started his own Identity Consultancy with Legendary Identity Designer Arthur Congdon. DON ERVIN became Partner at Siegel & Gale. Left Siegel & Gale in late 1980s to start Idependant Identity Consultancy. DON ERVIN created the Legendary OMNIPOTENT Film Graphic Symbol for THE MISFITS with Marilyn Monroe, Clark Gable, and Eli Wallach.
DesignMaven , Identity and Image Management
Monday, December 22, 2003 22:04

Reminds me of days gone by, when movies were at their best, and so were the actors.
John Weghorst, Houston, TX
Friday, December 19, 2003 21:47

When I see this logo I can immediately visualise in my mind the way it 'grew', one stem at a time, in its on-screen animation! For me it's a logo that exists in its animated, moving form; a good sign for an identity representing the moving image... and a great loss.
Richard Welsh, -
Thursday, December 18, 2003 16:05

And who can forget the tagline that accompanied this mark: "Entertainment from Transamerica Corporation"? (the key to the conglomerate behind UA).
Robert Foley, Dublin
Wednesday, December 17, 2003 10:51

I watch a lot of movies. But I can't seem to remember the current United Artists logo. Bring back the Blue T Flower!
Manny del Rosario, BBDO
Tuesday, December 16, 2003 10:36

This logo was the signal for me to be seated, popcorn at the ready and the start of James Bonds latest adventure. I shall miss it.
Giulio Bouroullec, MOMA Queens
Sunday, December 07, 2003 14:41