19/08/2025
Joseph Caroff, a prolific graphic designer, died at 103 on August 17, 2025, just before his 104th birthday. Born in 1921 in Linden, New Jersey, Caroff studied at Pratt Institute and worked under poster designer Jean Carlu. In 1962, he created the iconic James Bond 007 logo for the first film, Dr. No, transforming the "7" into a gun inspired by Ian Fleming’s Walther PPK. Commissioned for a publicity letterhead, he was paid $300 without royalties or credits, yet the logo became a global symbol, featured in every Bond film. Caroff’s portfolio included posters for West Side Story, A Hard Day’s Night, Cabaret, Last Tango in Paris, and Manhattan, plus title sequences for films like The Last Temptation of Christ. Despite his extensive work on over 300 film campaigns, he remained relatively unknown, rarely signing his designs. His 007 logo, praised for its simplicity and elegance, endures as a cinematic hallmark. Caroff later founded J. Caroff Associates and retired in 2006 to focus on painting. His legacy, highlighted in the 2022 documentary By Design: The Joe Caroff Story, continues to influence graphic design
