Graphic designer José María Cruz Novillo, creator of iconic logos of democratic Spain, has died on Saturday at 89. His family and media like Gráffica confirmed the news. His work endures in entities like Correos, Renfe and the PSOE.
José María Cruz Novillo died on Saturday, May 2, 2026, at 89 years old, as reported first by Gráffica and confirmed by his family to EL MUNDO and EL PAÍS. Born in Motilla del Palancar (Cuenca) in 1936, he started as a draughtsman at Publicidad Clarín in 1958 and founded his own studio in 1965 after participating in the 1964 New York World's Fair.
His creations include logos for Correos (yellow bagpipe), Renfe, Repsol, Endesa, Policía Nacional (blue shift), the PSOE fist and rose, Madrid Community flag and shield, 1979-1985 peseta bills with portraits of writers like Rosalía de Castro, and EL MUNDO's green globe since 1989. He also designed posters for films like El espíritu de la colmena, Ana y los lobos and Los lunes al sol.
His son Pepe Cruz Novillo Jr., who shared the Cruz más Cruz studio with him since 2007, wrote a letter in EL MUNDO: "Spain has lost one of its most important designers in history". He regretted that he won't see his major exhibition at CentroCentro in October or his grandchildren Pablo, Manuela and Rocío grow up.
Politicians like Pedro Sánchez called him a "design reference" and highlighted his PSOE fist and rose. Emiliano García-Page, Álvaro Martínez Chana, Darío Dolz and Paco Núñez offered condolences, emphasizing his legacy in collective memory. He received the National Design Award in 1997 and the Gold Medal for Merit in Fine Arts in 2012.
