NASA Graphics Standards Manual: Remastered Edition
Last updated: 5 October 2026
The NASA Graphics Standards Manual is the 1976 rulebook for NASA's "worm" logo, the red lettering designed by Danne & Blackburn. This Remastered Edition, edited and illustrated by Tony Darnell, rebuilds the manual from high-resolution scans of the original, with the drawings recreated and the photos replaced from the NASA library.
It is a 116-page hardback, 8.5 x 11 inches (21.6 x 27.9cm), printed on demand. Amazon UK lists it at £31.98, sold by Speedyhen UK, with free delivery. Price checked on 5 October 2026.
It is not a facsimile of the original binder: the double-page spreads are split across facing pages so they fit a bound book.
Buy the Remastered Edition on Amazon, £31.98
What the NASA Graphics Standards Manual is
In 1975, as part of the US Federal Graphics Improvement Program, NASA commissioned a new identity from the New York studio Danne & Blackburn. The result was the worm, the four letters of NASA drawn as a single red logotype. The manual, published in 1976, set out how the worm and the rest of the identity should appear on everything from letterheads and forms to signs and vehicles.
NASA retired the worm in 1992 and went back to the round blue "meatball" emblem from 1959. However, the worm never went away entirely. NASA brought it back in 2020 for the SpaceX Demo-2 launch, painted on the side of the Falcon 9, and the Museum of Modern Art now holds a copy of the original manual in its design collection.
What the Remastered Edition changes
Tony Darnell worked from high-resolution scans of the original manual. According to the publisher's description, more than two hundred hours went into recreating the drawings, with care taken to keep the image and font proportions correct. Photos from the 1976 manual were replaced with the original photos from the NASA library, and missing ones with similar NASA images.
The biggest change is the format. The original was a ring binder of loose pages, so the remastered book splits each double-page spread across two facing pages. As a result, it reads as a clean reference book rather than a copy of the object NASA's staff handled.
Print and paper
The book is printed on demand on thick 70lb paper. The publisher says type as small as three-point Helvetica stays legible, and the redrawn logos and grids print sharply.
Key facts
- Title: NASA Graphics Standards Manual: Remastered Edition
- Editor and illustrator: Tony Darnell
- Publisher: Paul A. Darnell
- Published: 10 December 2017
- Format: hardback, 116 pages, illustrated
- Size: 8.5 x 11 inches (21.6 x 27.9cm), 671g
- ISBN: 978-1680920789
- Price: £31.98 on Amazon UK on 5 October 2026
Who it suits
It suits graphic designers, brand designers and anyone who collects space history. Design students will get the most from the grids, colour specifications and rules for placing the logo, because they show how a full identity system was documented before software templates existed. It also makes a good gift for a designer, and it sits well next to our NASA Archives book page. For logos from studios working now rather than in 1976, the Patch:Work Logo Archive collects marks from 247 studios and designers in one small-run book.
Things to know before you buy
- Print on demand: copies are printed to order, so print quality can vary a little between copies.
- Not the binder: if you want the look and feel of the original loose-leaf manual, this edition does not recreate it.
- Third-party seller: on 5 October 2026 Amazon UK's listing was sold and shipped by Speedyhen UK, with six copies left. Amazon's returns window is 30 days.
Get the NASA Graphics Standards Manual
Frequently Asked Questions
Who designed the NASA worm logo?
The New York design firm Danne & Blackburn, founded by Richard Danne and Bruce Blackburn. NASA introduced the worm in 1975 and published the Graphics Standards Manual in 1976.
Is the Remastered Edition the same as the original manual?
No. It is a bound hardback rebuilt from scans of the original, with redrawn artwork and replacement NASA photos. The original was a ring binder.
How much is the NASA Graphics Standards Manual in the UK?
The Remastered Edition was £31.98 on Amazon UK on 5 October 2026, with free delivery.
How big is the book?
8.5 x 11 inches (21.6 x 27.9cm), 116 pages, and it weighs 671g.
Does NASA still use the worm logo?
The meatball is NASA's main insignia. Since 2020, though, NASA has used the worm again on selected missions and merchandise.
Official sources
This page contains affiliate links, which are paid links. If you buy through one, I earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices and stock can change.
More from CoolCuration
- Apollo 11 Haynes Manual: the Haynes manual for the Moon landing mission, in its 50th anniversary edition.
- Gifts for designers: books, tools and objects for people who care how things look.
- Gifts for space lovers: presents for anyone who follows rocket launches.
- London Design Festival guide: twelve picks from the festival, grouped into three walks.
- Penpot: a free, open-source design tool that runs in the browser.
Other gift guides:
Follow us: Instagram
Copyright 2026 CoolCuration | Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy | Affiliate Disclosure | Cool Factor
-----------
We are proud supporters of a safer more private internet via encouraging people to use Brave browser and are actively taking on Spammers as part of ProjectHoneypot. This site is hosted on servers that run on 100% renewable energy in the UK thanks to GreenWebHosting.
This site contains affiliate links, including to Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk. We may earn a commission if you make a purchase or sign up for a service via these links, at no extra cost to you. All offers and promotions are accurate at the time of publication but are subject to change or withdrawal by the businesses featured. We cannot guarantee their continued availability. Read our full affiliate disclosure.
Reviews and opinions on CoolCuration reflect the personal experience of our writers at the time of publication. They are not professional endorsements and your experience may differ. Scores use our Cool Factor rating system and are given independently of any commercial relationship.
All content on CoolCuration is provided for informational and entertainment purposes only. It does not constitute financial advice, investment recommendations or an endorsement of any product or service. We are not authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority and do not offer personalised financial guidance. You should always do your own research or consult a qualified financial advisor before making any financial decisions.