{"id":72379,"date":"2023-07-28T09:05:00","date_gmt":"2023-07-28T09:05:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/businessyield.com\/?p=72379"},"modified":"2023-09-01T05:44:39","modified_gmt":"2023-09-01T05:44:39","slug":"bmw-logo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/businessyield.com\/brand-stories\/bmw-logo\/","title":{"rendered":"BMW LOGO: Meaning, History, Evolution, Best Easy Tips","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"\n
RAPP Motorenwerke was started in 1913. It is a famous car company that is now best known for making engines for airplanes. In 1916, it changed its name to Bayerische Motoren Werke, or simply BMW. So, it makes sense to start talking about the history of the BMW logo by talking about the RAPP version. This article would shed more light on the meaning of the BMW logo to you. Read along.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Bayerische Motoren Werke was started in 1917. It is also known as the Bavarian Motor Works (BMW). The aviation engine firm Rapp Motorenwerke, which had its headquarters in Munich, the state capital of Bavaria in southern Germany, was renamed to become BMW. Despite the name change, the technological assets, assets, and original workforce all stayed the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There was no corporate logo when the name BMW was first entered into the commercial register in July 1917. The first ad from the same month didn’t have any BMW logos or symbols on it either. However, it did include its future intended product line, which included engines for cars, farms, and boats alongside aircraft engines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is a history of the BMW logo and how it changed over the years. Read through to find hidden things you don’t know about the BMW logo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The current BMW symbol consists of a badge with two circles on it. The BMW logo’s inner circle is decorated with a white and blue check pattern. You can see the letters “BMW” on a transparent background in the larger circle surrounding this core image.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The BMW logo is also written in a straightforward sans-serif font using only capital letters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
BMW has long had a logo that is quite similar to those of several other well-known automakers. All BMW products, including the vehicles themselves, now bear the white and blue logo. The “BMW roundel” is the name of the emblem, according to the official BMW brand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Over the years, the BMW logo hasn’t changed all that frequently. Even though the business has occasionally changed how it looks, the evolution of the BMW logo makes it simple to trace the design’s roots back to the automaker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In 1916, the BMW logo’s first iteration was created. This is a lot like the famous blue and white symbol that is used in the current design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The RAPP logo was made in 1913. It was a round medallion with a thick black border. Inside the medallion were two thin white stripes and two white stars. The wordmark “RAPP MOTOR” was in capital letters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A black horse’s profile was also seen inside the circle. The ceramic chess knight was also tilted to the left.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The color choices make a big difference between the current BMW logo and the one that was formerly used by BMW. In this instance, the BMW lettering is written in gold, with both the circles and the fonts of the BMW symbol on a black background.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here, the font has also seen a slight change. Like many older businesses, BMW decided on a serif typeface to project elegance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In 1923, the company tried out gold lines that were thicker and script that was much bigger. However, this led to a small change in the pattern.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of the biggest alterations to the BMW logo was done by the company in 1936. To meet the growing demand for a chrome, futuristic look, the golden decorations were switched out for silver ones. A slightly lighter shade of blue was used in the core white and blue motif.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The silver edges of the logo from the 1930s were much thinner, which made the black circle around the core design look more important. The “BMW” font’s lettering was now in a classy gray with more pronounced serifs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the 1960s, BMW updated its appearance with a more contemporary BMW logo symbol. The letters were changed from serif to sans-serif in a strong white font, and the badge’s edges became more defined. Once more, the hues in the center circle altered, this time to a deeper shade of blue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A thin double white-and-black line was also used in place of the silver framing that surrounded the BMW sign to create a cleaner appearance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The second logo design for the well-known German carmaker was created in 1970. It was a vibrant and colorful badge with the official emblem from 1963 centered within a larger circle made of thick lines in various shades of blue, white, and pink.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The BMW logo which is the most recognizable and distinctive was designed in 1997 and stayed in use until 2020. But even when the new design is introduced in 2020, the old badge continues to be shown on the iconic German cars’ bonnets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The 1997 design is a three-dimensional circle with a thick black edge and a silver-gray outline around a white nameplate. The segments of the propeller are now divided from one another by the black lines in the inner blue and white designs. This gives the logo a rigid, modern, and polished appearance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In 2020, the company changes to a minimalist style and makes its logo two-dimensional instead of using black. The blue and white checkered circle now has a thin gray outline and a thick white frame around the gray “BMW” written in a contemporary, somewhat enlarged typeface.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The sleek and modern look of the BMW logo shows how the brand has grown and how willing it is to move into a new era.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nevertheless, the new organization was given a logo on October 5, 1917. The original Rapp logo’s round shape was carried over into this round BMW insignia, which was filed in the German Imperial Register of Trademarks. On the outer ring, which was now surrounded by two gold lines, the letters BMW were written.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The company’s emblem was also supposed to have a representation of Bavaria; the colors of the State of Bavaria\u2014white and blue\u2014are displayed in the quarters of the inner circle on the BMW logo. However, their order is reversed (at least as far as heraldic rules are concerned, where you read clockwise from the top left). At the time, the local trademark law said that state coats of arms or other signs of sovereignty couldn’t be used in commercial logos. This is why the blue and white in the BMW logo are in the wrong order.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
White and blue, the colors of the German state of Bavaria, where BMW is based, are the first clue to the logo’s meaning. The BMW logo, complete with the four colored quadrants, is shown on a spinning airplane propeller in a 1929 BMW advertisement. Since then, the idea that the BMW logo symbolizes a propeller has persisted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even now, many individuals still think that the BMW logo shows a rotating propeller even now. Why is that? Years after the debut of the original business emblem, the tale of the BMW propeller emerged. A 1929 BMW advertisement featured an airplane with the BMW logo embedded in the propeller. The advertisement was attempting to market a new airplane engine that BMW was manufacturing under license from Pratt & Whitney during the start of the world economic crisis. The interpretation of the propeller, which highlighted the firm’s roots and its skill in aircraft manufacturing, blended extremely well with the advertising image of the fledgling company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The primary components of the BMW logo have largely remained the same over time. Since the beginning, the company has used circles as its main shape and the colors of the Bavarian flag as its brand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But there have been a few changes to the font’s color and the logo’s surrounding outlines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The white and blue of the Bavarian flag, with the colors, switched to stay in line with trademark laws, are the most important colors for the BMW logo right now. BMW sometimes changes the shade of blue it uses, but the overall color scheme of the company stays the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
BMW’s font color is either white or silver right now, although in the past it has alternated between silver, gold, and white hues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Many facets of the BMW logo’s font haven’t changed over time, just like the logo’s overall style. BMW, like many other businesses, realized how important it was to give its clients a “modern” impression, so it switched from its original serif font to a sans-serif one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The original font had a striking design that was often printed in gold or silver. The typography changed with the company, becoming cleaner and more contemporary. Though BMW claims the type isn’t exactly the same as the original Helvetica typeface, the font for the BMW logo is occasionally referred to as Helvetica.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nearly 90 years after the firm was founded and the logo was designed, people disagree about the symbolism of the BMW logo today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
An airplane rotating quickly against a background of blue sky is the first and most obvious metaphorical significance of the image.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, there is another chess-related symbolic reason behind the design. In fact, the founders of BMW were able to “outplay” competitors and the winners of the First and Second World Wars. They were also able to keep and grow production, even when things were hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here are some reasons why the BMW logo works:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Customers praised the BMW logo for being so straightforward. The logo’s message isn’t cluttered by any excessive design features. People don’t need much time to figure out the meaning of the logo because it is clear and recognizable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Like other iconic symbols, the BMW logo is instantly recognizable. Anyone can memorize the visual symbol thanks to its simple design and minimal graphic elements: a circular frame, typography, two colors, and quadrants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Humans are drawn to attractive things and enjoy being around them. The understated blue and white logo is balanced, appealing, and simple to look at. People are drawn to it because it is visually appealing wherever it appears.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Most people are aware that the BMW logo design was influenced by the Rapp Logo. The two symbols are different from one another, though. There is no visual identity in the branding industry that resembles BMW distinctive design. The logo also stands out from the crowd and is distinctive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A logo needs to be adaptable in order to reach more consumers. The BMW logo is easily scalable across all marketing platforms. This is so that it may fit on any channel without losing its quality and brilliance thanks to the logo’s simple structure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The previous BMW logo, which was unveiled in 1997, has been replaced by the new flat one. The trademark black ring that has ringed the company’s emblem since it was initially registered in 1917 has been replaced with a transparent ring, allowing it to change color and pattern depending on the background.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
BMW logos are not only not all the same size on one model, but they are also not all the same size on different models. As a result, the steering wheel emblem and wheel badges are even smaller than the trunk badge, which is smaller than the hood badge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Let’s talk about the BMW shape and symbol. Be ready to get the information you need about them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
BMW seems to have a circle of addiction. Since its inception, circular frames have been the main components of its logo. Circles are frequently used in graphic design to represent unity and infinity. It stands in solidarity with the extended family of devoted clients it serves. It also represents the company’s lengthy existence of roughly 105 years as a mark of infinity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The four quadrants created a distinctive sign that resembles an airplane propeller, despite being dismissed. This story has a close connection to the company’s history as a manufacturer of aviation engines. Another perspective shows that the inner blue and white quarters resemble chess pieces. It represents a tactical choice made by the company’s directors to compete with other significant companies in the automobile industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Colors provide nonverbal messages to those who are aware of psychology. Therefore, the BMW logo designer incorporates a couple of them to convey the brand’s individuality. Let’s quickly review three of the colors used in the logo below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The BMW brand is viewed as elegant, opulent, and powerful by car enthusiasts who are aware of the feelings that colors evoke. Why do you think this? since these emotions are associated with the color black. The color can also convey power, neutrality, and simplicity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Buyers of automobiles seek out brands that can guarantee their comfort, safety, and dependability. In order to let them know that it understands their anxieties, BMW selected the hue of the sky. Blue is a symbol representing assurance, peace, and tranquility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
White balances out the other colors\u2014black and blue\u2014on the BMW logo. Purity, cleanliness, and goodness are connoted by color. White can also represent purity, wholeness, and safety. The color designer used to add negative space to the logo is a fantastic decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n