Susan Kare Happy Macintosh on Bright Yellow print
Last updated: 27 October 2026
This is the smiling computer that greeted every Macintosh owner from 1984, drawn by the designer who made it, Susan Kare. The Susan Kare Happy Mac print is a signed, numbered and dated giclée on Hahnemühle Photo Rag, with the pixel icon in black on bright yellow. Kare Prints sells five sizes from $259, which its shop showed as £196.99 for UK buyers.
What the Susan Kare Happy Mac print is
Kare joined Apple in 1982 to work on the original Macintosh. She designed its first icons, including the file folder and the command key cloverleaf, and refined the trash can from the one on Apple's Lisa, all drawn on a tiny grid of square pixels.
The Happy Mac appeared in the middle of the screen when the computer was switched on. In Kare's own words on the listing, "The idea was to let the user know that everything was fine (as the software loaded)".
Each print carries a small grey line in the bottom left margin noting that Apple designed the icon and allows its use.
Key facts
- Artist: Susan Kare, designer of the original Macintosh icons
- Print: giclée with archival ink on acid-free Hahnemühle Photo Rag
- Signature: hand-signed, numbered and dated by Kare
- Sizes and editions: 8.5 x 11in, 16 x 20in and 17 x 22in in editions of 200; 24 x 30in and 30 x 40in in editions of 100
- Price: from $259 for 8.5 x 11in, shown as £196.99 for UK buyers, up to $669 for 30 x 40in
- Production: printed to order, and usually ships within 3 to 4 weeks
- Framing: sold unframed
Who it suits
- Mac users since the beige-box days: it is the icon their computer showed at every start-up.
- Interface and icon designers: Kare's 1984 icons set the look of the first Mac desktop.
- Home offices: the yellow and black graphic sits well above a desk.
More presents for people who make things look good are in our gifts for designers guide.
The limits
Kare Prints is a US shop. The sterling price is a conversion, delivery is free worldwide, but UK buyers pay import duty and taxes to the courier on delivery.
Each print is made to order, so allow 3 to 4 weeks before it ships, plus delivery time to the UK.
The smallest size is 8.5 x 11in, the US letter format, which does not fit a standard A4 frame.
Where to buy it in the UK
The print is only sold by Kare Prints, Susan Kare's own print shop, which delivers to the UK. For the story of how she drew the Macintosh icons, The Henry Ford museum has a good profile of her work.
Happy Macintosh at Kare Prints
FAQs
How much is the Susan Kare Happy Mac print in the UK?
From $259 for the 8.5 x 11in size, which Kare Prints showed as £196.99 for UK buyers, with free delivery plus UK import charges.
Is it signed by Susan Kare?
Yes. Every print is hand-signed, numbered and dated by Kare.
What sizes are there?
8.5 x 11in, 16 x 20in and 17 x 22in in editions of 200, and 24 x 30in and 30 x 40in in editions of 100.
How long does it take to arrive?
Prints are made to order and usually ship within 3 to 4 weeks, then travel from the US.
What was the Happy Mac?
The icon shown in the middle of the screen when a Macintosh started up from 1984, to show that everything was fine while the software loaded.
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- Gifts for techies: presents for people who like their gadgets.
I checked the prices and editions on Kare Prints on 18 October 2026.
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