GM Logo Designer Alan Peckolick Dies

Alan Peckolick, the graphic designer responsible for the most recent version of General Motors Co.’s logo, died earlier this month at the age of 76.

Peckolick’s style featured the bold use of typography against a background of color. The GM logo uses muscular sans-serif letters for the company’s initials, with a bold white underline bar, set inside a vertical blue block.

In addition to logos, Peckolick designed typefaces, annual reports and other corporate identity pieces as well as book covers and movie posters. His client list included AT&T, Bell South, Mercedes-Benz, New York University, Pfizer, Revlon and Sony.

Peckolick, who was rejected by several art schools for his lack of drawing skills, switched to graphic design and graduated from Pratt Institute in New York City. He received more than 500 design awards and in later life became an accomplished painter.

Peckolick died from brain damage sustained during a recent fall. He had suffered from Parkinson's disease for several years.