Gary Anderson (designer)

The Universal Recycling Symbol, here rendered with a black outline and green fill. Both filled and outline versions of the symbol are in use.

Gary Dean Anderson (born 1947) is an American graphic designer and architect. He is best known as the designer of the recycling symbol, one of the most readily recognizable logos in the world.

Anderson's contribution to modern graphic design has been compared to those of early pioneering modernist graphic designers such as Herbert Bayer.^[1] His design for a symbol to embody the concept of recycling has been compared to iconic trademarks such as those for Coca-Cola and Nike.^[2] It has been called one of America's "most important design icons," ^[3] it is one of the most recognizable graphic symbols in the world^[4] and has helped to encourage global recycling.^[5] In some countries, such as the UK, the symbol carries such implicit meaning that it requires government permission to be used.^[6] Although the symbol is the most widely known of his accomplishments, Anderson has also made important contributions in the areas of urban planning and urban development.

^ Anker, Peder; "Graphic Language: Herbert Bayer's Environmental Design"; Environmental History; 12:2, Winter, 2007 Graphic Language: Herbert Bayer’s Environmental Design
^ Dyer, Judith C; The Story Behind the Recycling Symbol Archived 2010-12-28 at the Wayback Machine; Paper University; TAPPI, Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry, Norcross, Georgia; December 2001 Archived 2010-02-06 at the Wayback Machine
^ Meggs, Philip B; "The Rise and Fall of Design at a Great Corporation"; Print; XLVI:III, May/June, 1992
^ Anonymous; "Instructional Resource: Endless Ribbon, 1935 by Max Bill"; Baltimore Museum of Art Teacher & School Programs, Andre, Linda, ed; Baltimore; 2005-2006
^ Jones, P & Powel, P (2009) Gary Anderson has been found! Archived 2009-09-28 at the Wayback Machine
^ Rules Governing Use of Recycling Logo, www.recyclingexpert.co.uk, accessed 26.11.09

[Anker-1] Anker, Peder; "Graphic Language: Herbert Bayer's Environmental Design"; Environmental History; 12:2, Winter, 2007 Graphic Language: Herbert Bayer’s Environmental Design

[JCD1-2] Dyer, Judith C; The Story Behind the Recycling Symbol Archived 2010-12-28 at the Wayback Machine; Paper University; TAPPI, Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry, Norcross, Georgia; December 2001 Archived 2010-02-06 at the Wayback Machine

[ReferenceA-3] Meggs, Philip B; "The Rise and Fall of Design at a Great Corporation"; Print; XLVI:III, May/June, 1992

[4] Anonymous; "Instructional Resource: Endless Ribbon, 1935 by Max Bill"; Baltimore Museum of Art Teacher & School Programs, Andre, Linda, ed; Baltimore; 2005-2006

[5] Jones, P & Powel, P (2009) Gary Anderson has been found! Archived 2009-09-28 at the Wayback Machine

[6] Rules Governing Use of Recycling Logo, www.recyclingexpert.co.uk, accessed 26.11.09

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