Richard Danne

Richard Danne (born 1934) is an American graphic designer who designed the 1975 NASA logotype, nicknamed the "worm", in collaboration with Bruce Blackburn. For his contributions to American design, Danne was awarded the 2014 AIGA Gold Medal. He attended Oklahoma State University, initially majoring in engineering, before switching to art, and played jazz trumpet. In 1956, Danne enrolled in UCLA Graduate School of Design. Upon graduation, he started his design career in 1957 in Dallas, Texas, before moving to New York City in 1963. He co-owned design firms Gips & Danne with Phil Gips (1964–1969), Danne & Blackburn with Bruce Blackburn (1973–1984),

Danne was the president of American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) in 1977–79. and SFMOMA. In 2021, he designed a commemorative watch for NASA. In 2023, he was awarded NASA Exceptional Public Achievement Medal. In 2025, the NASA worm logo was included in Pirouette: Turning Points in Design, an exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art featuring "widely recognized design icons [...] highlighting pivotal moments in design history."