Teen's Steve Jobs Logo an Online Sensation
A Hong Kong design student has gained major acclaim for his somber tribute to Apple founder Steve Jobs that featured Jobs' silhouette incorporated into the bite of a white Apple logo on a black background.
The image has become an Internet sensation and has gone viral online since the news of his death.
“I feel so unreal,” said Jonathan Mak, a second year graphic design student at Hong Kong Polytechnic University who said he was inundated with tens of thousands of emails and messages on his Twitter account.
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The 19-year-old student designer said newspapers in the United States and Germany contacted him about buying the copyright to the simple yet powerful image. He also received job offers from various companies.
“I am flattered by the attention but I would like to focus on my study before taking on a full-time job,” said Mak.
According to AFP, the design was first created in late August when Jobs announced his resignation, but the logo didn’t receive media attention until the Apple founder died of pancreatic cancer this week.
Mak informed the public that he would be targeting commercial opportunities and was hoping to contact Apple concerning copyright issues as his design is based on Apple’s own logo.
Mak’s logo is being used on commemorative memorabilia for Jobs including digitally marketed caps and t-shirts.
He later said, “I will consider using any proceeds I make from the copyright for cancer research.”
The Hong Kong student said Jobs inspired his design work.
“He was a minimalist, which is the way I would like to emphasize in my design – fewer elements but a powerful message.”
AFP reported that Mak needs more time to get used to the overnight fame.
"You don't get to 180 thousands notes without feeling slightly insane," the 19-year-old posted on another micro blogging site Tumblr Friday, referring to the messages he has received.
