What’s In a Logo?

WHAT'S IN A LOGO? "Logos and branding are so important. In a big part of the world, people cannot read French or English-but are great in remembering signs' Karl Lagerfield (designer) Mercedes History: Mercedes Benz was founded by life-long business partners Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach. Mercédès is the name of Maybach's elder daughter, while the Benz came as a result of a merger with Benz and Cie in 1926. The logo: Depiction of a three-pointed star representing its domination of the land, the sea, and the air. Subaru History: Subaru is one of the leading Japanese transportation conglomerates. Subaru specialises in all-wheel drive automobiles, most notably the Subaru Forester and the Outback. The Logo: Owes largely to the Pleiades, the famous star-cluster in the constellation Taurus. In Japanese the cluster is known as "Subaru", which roughly means "to govern" or "combine" in English. Chevrolet History: Originally founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted General Motors founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, it was acquired by General Motors in 1918. The Logo: Over the years, the Chevy bowtie design has undergone several minor changes. The "Chevrolet" word mark was once present and then it was taken out. It's put on weight only to lose it, and it's even been surrounded by other shapes. Lexus History: Lexus is the luxury vehicle division of the Japanese auto giant Toyota and was established in the US and Canada in 1989. It is the largest selling luxury car brand in both America and Japan. The Logo: Designed by Molly Designs and Hunter Communications. Some Toyota officials have asserted that the Lexus mark was conceptualised while following strict design guidelines, and a precise mathematical formula. BMW History: BMW (Bavarian Motor Works)AG is a German company and one of the leading manufacturers of automobiles and motorcycles in the world. Founded in 1916, BMW is also the parent company of the MINI and Rolls-Royce car brands. The Logo: The logo is commonly known as "roundel", was created in 1917. There is every reason to conclude that the BMW logo was created to signify the company's origin - Bavaria as blue and white signify their colours. Ferrari History: Founded by Enzo Ferrari in 1929. The company is known for its participation in racing, especially Formula One. Ferrari road cars are generally seen as a symbol of speed, luxury and wealth. The Logo: The logo is linked to an image that an Italian World War I hero had painted on his planes. Ferrari added a canary yellow background as this is the colour of birthplace, Modena. Volkswagen History: Founded in 1937. According to some historians, the creation of Volkswagen marked the end of Germany's World War I economic depression. The Logo: In over seventy years, the logo has changed little. Eventhough the original source of the logo has been an issue of controversy, VW history is that the first VW logo was developed in 1938 by Franz Xavier Reimspiess; the result of an office competition. The logo evolved slightly after WWII. One of the changes in this final design was the introduction of colour (the logo was predominantly black at the outset). Audi History: Audi AG is a German automobile manufacturer established in 1909. It's synonymous with the expression "vorsprung durch technik," meaning advantage through technology. The Logo: The four ring Audi logo symbolises the merger in 1932 of four previously independent motor vehicle manufacturers: Audi, DKW, Horch and Wanderer. Porsche History: Porsche is a German automobile manufacturer founded in 1931 by Ferdinand Porsche. Headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany, Porsche specialises in luxury sports cars. STUTTGART The Logo: Ferdinand Porsche and his team created this in the early 1950's. The crest glorifies the history of the former state of the Federal Republic of Germany; Württemberg-Baden. Made up of stylised antlers and the state colours of red and black, it was intended to pay a rich tribute to Swabia, the Porsche family's second home. The black horse on the yellow shield symbolises forward thrusting power and the distinctive seal of Stuttgart. References: Chevrolet image courtesy of Diego HC Lexus image courtesy of Dmitri Shirokolobov BMW image courtesy Dave Allan coolmaterial.com/rides/cars/the-stories-behind-car-logos/ www.logodesignlove.com/mercedes-benz-logo-evolution www.famouslogos.us/subaru-logo/ www.famouslogos.net/lexus-logo www.logodesignlove.com/bmw-logo-evolution en.wikipedia.ora/wiki/Ferrari www.jamespeacockdesign.com/blog/volkswagen-logo-history/ www.porsche.com/international/accessoriesandservice/clas- sic/philosophyandclassicworld/world/tradition/emblem/ www.famouslogos.net/porsche-logo/ WOODSTOCK MOTORS www.woodstockmotors.co.uk