Bruce Nelson Blackburn

1938 - 2021
Bruce Nelson Blackburn, 82, died peacefully in his sleep on February 1, 2021 after complications from a fall.
Bruce was an award-winning graphic designer and artist. He created two identity programs that have become American icons – the symbol for the American Revolution Bicentennial and the logo for NASA (known as "the worm" and recently revived by the agency). He received the Presidential Award for Design Excellence for his work with NASA in 1985.
Bruce was known for his strategic and creative solutions to the challenges of branding, corporate and marketing communications. Among his distinguished award-winning works are branding and communications programs for IKON Office Solutions, Champion, IBM, Equistar Chemicals, U.S. Department of Transportation, Army Corps of Engineers and Prudential.
Bruce served as national president of the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) and was a member of the international design organization, Alliance Graphique Internationale (AGI). He was the author of Design Standards Manuals, a comprehensive guide to controlling identity programs, commissioned by the National Endowment for the Arts. He was a frequent lecturer on design at colleges and universities, and he often volunteered his talents to help promote educational, environmental and community causes.
Bruce was born in Dallas, Texas on June 2, 1938, and raised in Evansville, Indiana. He earned a BS in Design from the Design, Architecture, Art and Planning School at the University of Cincinnati where he was a member and president of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity. He then joined the Navy as a communications officer and served for nearly 4 years. He began his graphic design career with John Massey in Chicago before becoming a partner at Chermayeff & Geismar Associates in New York City. He was the founding principal for 15 years at the New York firm, Danne and Blackburn Inc. Throughout his career, he founded firms that focused on corporate identity, strategic communications and branding. Bruce believed that design is an intellectual exercise. His design aesthetic was modern, bold, clean and intellectual.
Bruce was an active artist, creating pieces that ranged from abstract color work to watercolor landscapes, with a goal of bringing order to chaos. He was also a musician, playing trumpet and French horn in college and sharing his love of classical music with the family. He was always game to provide design services for family milestones, and every birth announcement and birthday card for his grandchildren was a personal piece of art. He was a witty, challenging and fascinating conversationalist, and he built friendships all around the world.
He leaves his wife of forty years, Tina Harsham Blackburn; three children, Stephanie McFadden and husband Ray; David Blackburn; and Nick Sontag and wife Hilary; and eight grandchildren: Dahlia, Daniel, Maxwell, Haley, Ellie, Riley, Seeger and Summer.
Bruce and Tina recently relocated to Lakewood, Colorado to be near their grandchildren. They were involved in their Episcopal church community, and they supported the arts in many different ways through the years.
The family plans to hold a private, virtual memorial service.