Stop in the Name of Love!

Love is at the center of everything. Some of the most famous contemporary graphic designs revolve around the idea of love, or the heart symbol.

I Love NY. Well-known graphic designer Milton Glaser designed the I Love (using a heart symbol to represent Love) NY campaign in 1977 as a pro bono project for the NYS Department of Commerce. It has since been one of the most recognized and most knocked-off logos. After 9/11, Glaser updated the logo to I Love NY More Than Ever placing a black wound on the heart.

Virginia is for Lovers David Martin and George Woltz coined the slogan in 1969 to win the Virginia State Travel account. The first year after the slogan was released, travelers spent $800 million in the state. Today, Virginia still uses the slogan and is the 10th most visited state in the nation.


Quaker Oats In 1997, the FDA approved the first food-related health claim to Quaker Oats for the heart healthy benefits of soluble fiber in whole grain oats—reducing cholesterol and increasing potassium which leads to lower blood pressure. Quaker’s advertising campaign for its oatmeal and Cheerios products continues to capitalize on the decision to this day.

LOVE Sculpture, Pop artist Robert Indiana was inspired by a banner at a Christian Science church that said “God is Love.” He reversed the words in a painting to read, “Love is God,” and subsequently shortened it simply to “Love.” The first LOVE sculpture was made in 1966. At a time when the U.S. was at war in Vietnam, this simple icon became the signature symbol for peace.
Photo by Molly Ahearn | Love Park, Philadelphia

Open Heart Jewelry Italian jewelry designer, Elsa Peretti, is best known for the organically shaped open heart for Tiffany now worn by countless women around the world.