On August 29, one of the most influential artists in music history would have turned 56, and 6 years after his death, Michael Jackson's music and style continue to be forces to be reckoned with.

While the much argued-about claims of pedophilia, and his apparently manic obsession with plastic surgery, made the star unpalatable to many, it can't be argued that his talent for music and showmanship has not fundamentally shaped today's pop music.

More than just a talented performer, the King of Pop also was a hugely influential icon of design, especially in fashion. His glamorous military jackets, single jeweled gloves and perfectly modelled fedora hats made his instantly recognizable, and imitated by many.

But we found a few designs you may not have known to be influenced by the King of Pop. Let us know if we were able to surprise you with one of these, or if you know other designs based on his trailblazing.

Commemorative Logo

Okay, so this one is actually pretty obvious, but if you know us even a little bit then you know that we're suckers for beautiful logo designs. This one is perfect in its simplicity, the classic black and white is as stylish as the man it was created for, and the pose perfectly captions one of his most iconic talents – his dancing. The animated version of the logo only makes it better.

Guiseppe Zanotti Shoes

Again, this may not be the most revolutionary revelation – but many high-end fashion designers used Michael Jackson's iconic style as a source of inspiration. Compared to the slew of bejeweled military jackets, this classy stiletto is one of the less obvious options, but the sleek lines and shining metal clasps would certainly have pleased the King of Pop.

Sonic the Hedgehog

In his own right, Sonic the Hedgehog could be considered a superstar, starring in a video game series as well as countless spin-off comics, five TV series, and an animated film. But surprisingly few people know that two of his most iconic items – his red and white shoes – were actually inspired by the album cover of Michael Jackson's Bad. Many also speculate that his white gloves were a nod to the King.

Lexus NX 200t F Sport

This one might be the most surprising item in this list, but it definitely could be argued that this luxury car was indirectly inspired by Michael Jackson. You see, this special edition Lexus was designed by Black Eyed Peas front man wil.i.am. And wil.i.am makes no secret out of the fact that Michael Jackson was one of his great influences during his formative years, and in a way inspired him to pursue design. Without this inspiration, wil.i.am may have forever stuck to music (or who knows, maybe become an accountant?), so in a round-about way, Michael Jackson was definitely an inspirational force in the creation of this car.

Want More?

For a good designer, inspiration always lurks just around the corner. See what else we get inspired by:

Day of the Ninja: 20 Inspiring Ninja Logos

30 Amazing Autumn Inspired Logos to Warm You This Winter

Music to Our Ears: 10 Designs from Album Covers to Band Logos Made by DesignCrowd Designers

Written by Jane Murray on Thursday, August 27, 2015

Jane Murray is a freelance copywriter based in Sydney. Apart from writing up a storm for the DesignCrowd blog on anything from logo design to Michael Jackson's shoes, she enjoys reading literary science fiction and hanging out with most animals except wasps. Get in touch via LinkedIn.