Recently, I visited New York City for the first time. And you can bet, I was in full Midwesterner tourist mode, sensible shoes, camera hanging from my neck, with my eyes, ears and nose taking in the Big Apple. Mingling amongst the sights, sounds and smells was an ever-present visual—the “I Love New York” logo. 

From store fronts to tourist t-shirts, this iconic emblem was everywhere. The logo was created in 1977 by graphic designer Milton Glaser to promote New York and encourage tourism during a time when the city saw a large decrease due to high crime.