02/02/2026
Thomas Miller (1920–2012), an American graphic designer, created the iconic Motorola “batwing” logo in 1955 while working at Morton Goldsholl Associates in Chicago. Born in Bristol, Virginia, Miller graduated from Virginia State College in 1941 and studied at the Ray Vogue School of Art, earning a degree in 1950. The logo, designed to reflect Motorola’s modernization, features two contrasting waveforms, sine waves at the base and triangular peaks, forming an abstract “M.” Debuted at Chicago’s Merchandise Mart, it symbolized “sound in motion,” aligning with Motorola’s car radio origins and forward-thinking ethos. The versatile design adapted across international markets and remains iconic, used by Motorola Solutions (blue) and Motorola Mobility (red) post-2011 split. Miller’s work also included logos for the Peace Corps and 7-Up.