William Golden was a prominent American graphic designer, best known for creating the iconic CBS Eye logo. His innovative work significantly influenced corporate design and advertising in the mid-20th century.

Born in Manhattan, New York, Golden was the youngest of twelve children in a Jewish family. He attended the Vocational School for Boys, where he acquired skills in photoengraving and the fundamentals of graphic design.

In 1928, at the age of 17, Golden moved to Los Angeles, where he worked for a photoengraving and lithography firm and later joined the art department of the “Los Angeles Examiner“. Returning to New York in the early 1930s, he served as a promotional designer for Hearst's “Journal American“ and subsequently joined “House & Garde“ magazine under Condé Nast Publications. During this period, he apprenticed under the renowned art director Dr. Mehemed Fehmy Agha, who was known for pushing his team to constantly surpass themselves.

Golden's association with CBS began in 1937 when he joined their promotion department. By 1940, he had risen to the position of art director. His initial work focused on promoting CBS as a leading radio network, producing advertisements that emphasized radio's unique ability to bring historic events directly to audiences.

In 1941, Golden took a leave of absence to work for the Office of War Information in Washington, D.C. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1943, serving in Europe as the art director for army training manuals, and was discharged in 1945 with the rank of captain.

Returning to CBS after World War II, Golden played a pivotal role as television emerged as the dominant medium in America. In 1951, he was appointed creative director of advertising and sales promotion for CBS Television Network. In this capacity, he was instrumental in shaping CBS's corporate identity, notably through the development of the CBS Eye logo in 1951. The logo's simplicity and versatility made it ideal for various formats, symbolizing CBS's commitment to "looking at the world."

Golden was a perfectionist who believed in the power of simple, clear design solutions. He maintained that the primary function of a designer was to produce good design, thereby enhancing the visual environment of advertising. His work set new standards in American design, consistently delivering high aesthetic quality while meeting business and marketing objectives.

Golden was married to Cipe Pineles, a distinguished graphic designer and art director. Together, they adopted a son named Tom.

William Golden's career was cut short when he died of a heart attack on October 23, at the age of 48. Posthumously, he received several honors, including the Art Directors Club Hall of Fame induction in 1972. His work continues to be celebrated for its enduring influence on graphic design and corporate branding. (hs)