Exploring the Story and Man Behind the Iconic HB Logo: John Casado
Are you ready to dive into the waves of our very own crest? It's more than just a logo; it's a symbol embodying the spirit of Surf City. Let's cruise down memory lane and unpack the saga of the Huntington Beach logo.
In 1968 Huntington Beach held a competition for the logo of our city.
Over 200 people entered, and John Casado won $500 dollars with the “Quad” logo you know today. Casado, a true maverick of design, flipped the script for visual artistry back in the golden era. We're dialing it back to when bell-bottoms ruled the streets, and rock legends like Bob Dylan strummed the tunes of freedom.
Casado career took off designing album covers for Bob Dylan, Little Richard, Diana Ross and Carole King after his start here in HB!
From the lyrical graphics that graced the tunes of the Doobie Brothers to Neil Young's soulful chords, Casado's work sang on the covers with every turntable spin. And let's not forget the Allman Brothers' "Eat a Peach" cover! Casado had multiple nominations for Grammy’s and won Best Album Cover of the Year in 1974 with Mason Proffit “Come & Gone” Warner Bros.
The UCLA grad was also the brainiac who birthed the first branding trademark for the OG Macintosh Computer for Steve Jobs and Apple! Imagine that... The man responsible for a slice of tech history had his roots in our backyard.
Casado had an elaborate career ranging from artist to photographer. Casado worked with Norma Kamali, Alice Cooper, Larry King, Barry White, Lindsay Buckingham, the list goes on and on. Casado recalls the best advice be has ever received was early on in his career and helped him gain the success he achieved.
“Think ahead, because if you don’t, you will be irrelevant by the time you are 50”
The “Quad” logo has continuously evolved over the years, embodying the dynamic essence of HB's maverick identity. It represents adaptability, just like the ever-changing tides. As technology advanced, the logo underwent a digital transformation that you see today.