Air Jordan (Jumpman) Logo, symbol, meaning, history, PNG, brand (2024)

Air Jordan Logo PNG

The Jumping Man is not a ghost, a shadow, nor a real character. It’s a stylized negative of a photograph of a great basketball player, taken at the moment of a shot. The basketball player made it onto the Air Jordan logo because it conveys the athlete’s virtuosity, powerful attack, high skill, and determination.

Air Jordan (Jumpman): Brand overview

Air Jordan is a signature brand created by Nike for basketball player Michael Jordan. Today, it’s used for producing basketball, boxing, wrestling, and football gear – both apparel and footwear. The logo’s inception year is considered 1984 when a contract was signed between the legendary sportsman and Phil Knight. Twelve months after signing the contract, Jordan first appeared in his brand’s sneakers.

Meaning and History

The logo’s concept belongs to Tinker Hatfield. The emblem, called “Jumpman,” is a stylized image of Michael Jordan in Nike sneakers. The emblem’s nickname was specifically chosen because it means “jumping man.” It can now be seen on almost all branded products.

The athlete is captured in the moment of a historic jump at one of the decisive matches. As the basketball player himself admitted, he didn’t think about the pose; he just played. The result was an impressive shot, taken from behind. This remarkable flight will forever remain in the history of the American company and basketball.

What is Air Jordan (Jumpman)?
It’s a trademark and personal logo of the famous basketball player Michael Jordan.

Air Jordan (Jumpman): Interesting Facts

With its famous “Jumpman” logo, the Air Jordan brand is popular in sports and fashion, thanks to Michael Jordan, a basketball legend.

  1. How Air Jordan Started: Nike created Air Jordan for Michael Jordan in 1984, just as he started his amazing basketball career. This deal turned out to be one of the best.
  2. Jumpman Logo’s Start: The Jumpman logo, which shows Michael Jordan in the air with a basketball, came from a photo in 1984. Jordan was making a dance move called “grand jeté,” which helped make this cool silhouette.
  3. First Sneaker: The first Air Jordan sneaker came out in 1985. It was red and black like the Chicago Bulls, but it broke NBA rules at the time. Michael got fined for wearing them, but Nike paid the fines, making the sneakers even more popular.
  4. More Than Shoes: Air Jordan isn’t just for basketball; it’s also a big deal in fashion, music, and movies. The brand works with artists and designers, making it a big part of culture.
  5. Sneaker Innovations: Each Air Jordan sneaker brought something new, like the first one to show a part of the air cushion or the one with a shiny tongue and clear soles.
  6. Air Jordan in Movies: You might remember Air Jordan from Space Jam, which featured Michael Jordan and Bugs Bunny. The sneakers Michael wore became super popular.
  7. The Brand Grew: Air Jordan now includes clothes and gear for different sports, showing it’s not just about basketball anymore.
  8. Special Editions: Air Jordan often collaborates with designers and stores to create special sneakers people want to collect.
  9. Sponsored Athletes: It’s not just Michael Jordan. The brand supports top athletes in many sports who show the same spirit and skill as Jordan.
  10. Loved Worldwide: People all over the world love Air Jordan. New sneakers can sell out super fast, showing how much people still love everything about Michael Jordan.

Air Jordan means a lot more than just sneakers. It’s about how Michael Jordan left a mark on sports, fashion, and culture that people worldwide admire and follow.

Font and Colors

It depicts the silhouette of a man photographed jumping: he stretches towards the basketball hoop, trying to score. The movements are decisive and assertive, conveying the determination to reach the coveted goal and accomplish the intended. At the same time, the jump is elegant and harmonious. There are no superfluous elements – only a clear outline.

The black contour traces a powerful energy, which influenced Nike’s choice. It’s said that the logo embodies Michael Jordan’s unyielding will, reflects his secret, and conveys the aspiration to move forward. Over the years, the logo has undergone numerous transformations and moved from sneakers to other types of sports goods.

At the same time, Jumpman is not an innovative development. It was preceded by the “air” symbol by Peter Moore, also depicting a soaring basketball player, but with wings. This image became the prototype for the modern logo.

The Air Jordan logo doesn’t contain a single letter, as the designers focused on the silhouette of the basketball player. “Jumpman” is entirely black, and the background is white, as it essentially is a black-and-white positive photograph. By using such a graphic effect, designers tried to differentiate between the real photograph and the logo to make the brand’s visual style distinctive and independent from the original photo. The Jumpman logo is one of the most recognizable in the world.

Air Jordan (Jumpman) color codes

BlackHex color:#000000
RGB:0 0 0
CMYK:0 0 0 100
Pantone:PMS Process Black C

FAQ

What is the Air Jordan logo?

The Air Jordan logo is an image stylized as the personal emblem of the eponymous basketball player. It depicts Michael Jordan, photographed jumping while making a shot at the basket.

Does Jordan own the Jumpman logo?

Yes, the basketball player Michael Jordan owns the logo called Jumpman. It’s named so because it depicts the silhouette of a person captured in the moment of a jump.

Who designed the Jordan logo?

The logo was developed by Nike, which decided to release a line of sports shoes dedicated to the famous basketball player. Its author is Tinker Hatfield. The creator of the logo is Peter Moore, who saw a photograph of Michael Jordan in LIFE magazine.

Who is depicted on the Jordan logo?

The logo depicts the legendary basketball player Michael Jordan. It’s his real photo, taken by Jacobus Rentmeester, an Olympic rower from the Netherlands, published in 1984 in LIFE magazine.

Air Jordan (Jumpman) Logo, symbol, meaning, history, PNG, brand (2024)

FAQs

What is the meaning of the Jumpman logo? ›

The Air Jordan Jumpman logo stands as one of the most prestigious symbols in the world. The Jordan logo represents a footwear line and an entire cultural movement. This Jumping Man in mid-flight embodies grace, athleticism, and the spirit of the greatest player of all time, Michael Jordan.

What is the history of the Jordan Jumpman? ›

The shoes were designed for Nike by Peter Moore, Tinker Hatfield, and Bruce Kilgore. The Jordan Logo, known as the "Jumpman", originated from a photograph by Jacobus Rentmeester, taken before Jordan played for Team USA in the 1984 Summer Olympics.

What is the symbol of the Jordan brand? ›

The "Jumpman" logo is owned by Nike to promote the Air Jordan brand of basketball sneakers and other sportswear.

What did the original Air Jordan logo look like? ›

And predating the Jumpman logo, the OG shoe featured the Wings logo - a basketball with wings stretching from both sides and "Air Jordan" printed above the ball. Nike filed the Wings logo as a trademark on May 7, 1985.

Why is it called Jumpman? ›

“The Jumpman logo is a trademark of the Jordan Brand, a subsidiary of Nike, Inc. The logo features the silhouette of Michael Jordan, widely considered to be the greatest basketball player of all time, jumping in mid-air while holding a basketball.

When did Jordan get the Jumpman logo? ›

Jumpman Logo's Distinct Design

The Jumpman logo was created by Mr. Moore as well. However, it was not released until the design of the Jordan Three in 1988 under the design direction of Tinker Hatfield.

Who owns the Jumpman logo? ›

According to Nike's official website, the Jumpman logo is a trademark owned by Nike, Inc. This means that even though Michael Jordan may no longer have an ownership share in Nike or the Jordan brand, the trademark rights to the Jumpman logo remain with Nike.

Why is Jordan Brand called Jordan? ›

The answer is Peter Moore, the first Creative Director for Nike who designed the Jordan 1. As the legend goes, in a meeting in Washington with Nike executives, David Falk (Jordan's agent) suggested the name Air Jordan because of Michael's ability to gracefully soar through the air while making his famous dunk shots.

Why do some Jordans have Jumpman? ›

In its early days, the logo featured Michael Jordan in a jumping pose, wearing his iconic Air Jordan sneakers. As the years went by, the logo evolved to reflect Jordan's changing style and the evolution of the Air Jordan line.

Why is Jordan an icon? ›

Michael Jordan: A global icon, trendsetter, go getter, innovator. Revered by the masses, venerated by millions; he was the it-man of sports, and his shoes – his shoes were more precious than Cinderella's. What couldn't Michael Jordan do? He won the world over with his Air shots and 'give a damn' swag on the court.

Why is the Jordan logo so iconic? ›

The Jumpman (1988)

He convinced Michael Jordan to recreate the pose that he saw in a version of the Life Magazine. The powerful design that represents strength, confidence, power, mobility, and speed was thus born under the direction of Tinker Hatfield. The first shoe to get the Jumpman logo was Air Jordan III in 1988.

Why does Jordan use the Nike logo? ›

The Branding Strategy

While the Jordan Brand has established itself as a separate entity, it is still under the Nike umbrella. The Nike logo on select Jordans helps maintain the connection to Nike's legacy and reinforces the strong partnership between the two brands.

Did Jordan ever do the Jumpman logo? ›

It wasn't until a photoshoot with Nike to promote the Air Jordan 1 in 1985 that MJ did the Jumpman pose in a pair of Nike shoes.

Is Jordan owned by Nike? ›

The Nike-owned brand is well-known among consumers from different generations, and 36 percent of Gen Z sneaker owners in the U.S. own Jordan sneakers. More than 50 percent of Jordan owners value being successful, and over 20 percent consider advancing their career as one of the three most aspects in life.

What does the Nike logo represent? ›

Knight, then an assistant professor at PSU, wanted a logo that conveyed motion and agreed on Davidson's design, paying her just $35 for her work. The Swoosh is more than just a checkmark. It represents the wing of the Greek goddess Nike, symbolizing speed, movement, power, and motivation.

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