Georg Olden (graphic designer)

George Elliott Olden (November 13, 1920 – February 25, 1975) was an American graphic designer who worked in television and advertising.

Working at CBS, Olden helped to create the visual identities of shows such as Gunsmoke, I Love Lucy, and Lassie.

In 1933, after becoming increasingly politically active, Olden's father left his family in order to dedicate himself entirely to the civil rights movement.

[3] Olden dropped out of college after the attack on Pearl Harbor to work as a graphic designer for the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), forerunner of the CIA.

[4] While working at the OSS, Olden published cartoons in National CIO News, The New Yorker, and Esquire and designed posters promoting wartime conservation efforts.

[5] Olden worked for some of America's leading artists, designers and writers and made contacts that opened significant professional opportunities after the war.

McCann argued that Olden never requested a transfer out of PAC into a position that would lead to greater promotion within the company.

[9][16] After moving to Los Angeles, California, Olden started a class-action lawsuit against McCann Erickson for discrimination on behalf of himself and other black designers who were victims of discrimination, but was shot to death by live-in girlfriend Irene Mikolajczyk, who was arrested and tried a few days before the class action lawsuit was scheduled to begin.