The evolution of the CBS Eye

On Oct. 20, 1951, the CBS Eye made its debut on the airwaves.

Creative director Bill Golden, who designed the logo, was inspired when he drove through Pennsylvania Dutch country. He became intrigued by the hex symbols resembling the human eye that are drawn on Shaker barns to ward off evil spirits. He also came across a drawing he admired, that had the look of an eye, in a Shaker art book from the 1950s. With the help of graphic artist Kurt Weihs, the Eye logo was created.

The CBS Eye turns 60

1950s

In the Eye's original, animated incarnation during the 1950s, its center was a camera iris that opened and shut.

The CBS Eye turns 60

1950s

The CBS Eye turns 60

1950s

Over the years there have been different colors and sizes of the Eye, but to this day, the perfectly balanced design remains unchanged.

The CBS Eye turns 60

1960s

During the 1960s, the CBS Eye entered the era of color television. Decades later, the Eye continues to receive critical acclaim. On Dec. 13, 1998, it was featured in The New York Times magazine's roundup of the century's "greatest design hits."

The CBS Eye turns 60

1970s

In the 1970s, an anniversary edition of the CBS Eye was designed to celebrate the network's 50 years of broadcasting.

The CBS Eye turns 60

1980s

As technology evolved, the network featured its first fully computer-generated CBS Eye in the 1980s.

The CBS Eye turns 60

1990s

In the 1990s, the CBS Eye returned to its original simplicity, branding the network in a new media universe.

The CBS Eye turns 60

2000s

The network and the CBS Eye premiere in high-definition television. Recently, the March 14, 2011 issue of TIME magazine's story about the evolving logos of many corporations through the decades, stated "...as in the case of CBS, sometimes the companies get it right the first time."

The CBS Eye turns 60