The name BMW has become synonymous with making high levels of performance accessible to a wider audience. These are mass-produced automobiles, yet they have all the hallmarks of a luxury mode of transportation. The firm has been in operation since 1916, and during World War I, it became well-known for supplying motorbikes and aircraft engines to the German army.
BMW Slogan
- Sheer Driving Pleasure.
- The Ultimate Driving Machine.
- The Ultimate Driving Experience.
The significance and the past
In 1913, the firm that would later become known as BMW was first created as RAPP Motorenwerke. At the time, the company specialised in the development of engines for aeroplanes. In 1916, the company changed its name to Bayerische Motoren Werke, or simply BMW. It is reasonable to begin the narrative of its logo’s evolution with the RAPP version from the very beginning.
The first vehicle to be sold under the BMW brand was given the name Dixi, which comes from the Latin phrase “I said” or “I said everything.” This was the point at which the ancient Roman philosophers would wrap up their discourses. As a matter of fact, the high-speed tiny automobile known as the Dixi created a new name in the automotive business when it achieved a record speed during the 1920s and 1930s.
The primary goal of this logo, according to one iteration of the design, is meant to be reminiscent of the flag of Bavaria (on the flag alternate blue and white rhombuses). And to be honest, why not think about using this variant?
1913 – 1916
The RAPP logo, which was developed in 1913, was a circular medallion with a thick black border that had two delicate white stripes and two white stars. These elements were put to separate the “RAPP MOTOR” wordmark, which was written in all capital letters.
A profile of a black horse could be seen within the circle in the shape of a silhouette. The figurine of the chess knight was positioned so that it faced left.
1916 – 1933
In 1916, the first iteration of the blue and white checkered symbol that has become so recognisable was created. It had a thick black border with a thin gold edge, and the letters “BMW” were arched along its top portion in a rounded serif font.
The inner circle included a design of vivid blue and white that resembled the propeller of the aircraft. This pattern was meant to indicate the importance that the firm places on its history and its origins.
The Bavarian flag has a colour scheme that is exclusively blue and white, therefore it is not hard to see why those hues were selected.
1923 – 1953
In 1923, the emblem was updated and given a more contemporary appearance by having its outlines cleaned up and made more prominent. As a result of the expansion of the golden outline, the frame is now far more substantial than it was before.
Regarding the most significant alteration, it must be said that the font of the gold “BMW” lettering went through a transformation, becoming more fashionable and sophisticated with smooth strong serif lines.
1936 – 1963
In 1936, silver was chosen to take the place of gold. The primary blue and white pattern was made to seem lighter, and as a result, the logo was able to take on an updated appearance that was reminiscent of something icy. Because of the tiny silver edge, the black outline took on a touch of delicacy that was unexpected.
The grey text was now done in a strong straight serif font with pronounced cuts and edges, emphasising the forceful and progressive nature of the brand. Almost thirty years have passed since the corporation adopted this logo.
1963 – 1997
In the year 1963, the silhouette of the emblem was improved. The appearance of the logo was updated to give it a more contemporary look, and the colour palette was altered to be somewhat darker while retaining its tranquilly.
The wordmark “BMW” was now rendered in a sans-serif font that was white, and it included distinct straight lines, which reflected authority as well as the importance of quality and style.
The silver edge of the frame was also replaced with thin white lines, which resulted in the insignia having a flat appearance that was yet highly contemporary and powerful.
1970 – 1989
The official emblem that had been used since 1963 was placed in the middle of a larger circle that was composed of thick lines in various shades of blue, white, and pink in the additional logo version that was designed for the well-known German automaker in 1970. The badge was bright and colourful, and it featured the official emblem that had been used since 1963.
1997 – 2020
1997 saw the debut of what has become BMW’s most iconic and recognisable emblem, which will continue to serve in its official capacity until 2020. However, even after the old emblem is replaced with the new one in 2020 when the new design is introduced, the classic German automobiles will still have the old badge.
A three-dimensional circle with a thick black frame set inside a silver-gray outline and a white sand-serif nameplate make up the version that was released in 1997. The interior patterns of blue and white now have black lines running through them, which serve to divide the segments of the propeller from one another. Because of this, the logo comes out as authoritative in addition to modern and expert.
2020 – Today
In the year 2020, the corporation adopts a minimalist aesthetic and redraws its logo in a two-dimensional format, omitting the colour black in the process. Now the circle with blue and white checkerboard has a narrow grey edge and a thick white frame. Within the thick white frame is the grey “BMW” inscription, which is set in a contemporary font that is significantly expanded.
The brand has evolved, and its determination to adapt to the new period is reflected in the logo, which has been given a contemporary and hip appearance.
Symbol
They disagree, over 90 years after the firm was established and the emblem was designed, about the meaning of the BMW logo and how it relates to the corporation today.
The first and most immediately apparent interpretation of the picture is that it depicts an aircraft racing across the sky at a high rate of speed.
However, there was still another interpretation of the logo’s symbolism, and this one had to do with the game of chess. In point of fact, the strategic thinking of BMW’s founders made it possible for the company to “outplay” both rivals and victors of the First and Second World Wars, as well as to maintain and grow production even under the most difficult circumstances.
Emblem
Throughout general, the BMW symbol has not been updated in all of the company’s years of existence. The fundamental structure of typeface writing is represented by a circle with a “chess” piece placed in the middle and a black outline of the circle’s perimeter. Even the colours have been preserved (to a greater or lesser degree, given the metamorphosis of blue in the emblem), which demonstrates unequivocally that the company wants to maintain the qualities that make it outstanding while still being able to adapt to the changing fashions of the market.
Font
When you take into account the fact that the foundation of the logo has not practically been altered since the time of the company’s founding – the circle that is subdivided into four different colour segments in the centre, the outline of which serves as the background for the font name of the brand – then the font itself was updated and is now quite powerful.
The first typeface, which included serifs and lines that were quite thin, didn’t strike the developers as being striking enough. The letters grew strong, but the colour did not change from golden to any other shade. After that, the typeface was standardised, the notches were eliminated, and the lines received a thickness that was consistent throughout. And the colour, it turned out to be white, and up until this day, the white (silver) typeface has been regarded as the most traditional option for the brand.
What does the BMW emblem represent in its entirety?
A stylised geometric design that looks like an aircraft propeller is shown in the recognisable BMW emblem, which is rendered in the colours that are recognised as representing the Bavarian state. The firm once specialised in the production of propelled products, and the connection to the heritage of the name is still maintained in the emblem today.
Color
The colours blue and white, which are traditionally associated with Bavarian culture, were not a random decision when it came to designing the logo for the labour movement. The flag of this land will also be agreed upon, and it will have colours that are comparable. And despite the fact that the hues used in the logo evolved through time – for example, the blue went from being less saturated to more saturated, and it even morphed into a blue one – the designers of the logo insist that it still uses the colours from the Bavarian flag.
It is noteworthy to note that the font colour transitioned from gold to white in the 1930s (silver). As a result, the company underlined its intention to make luxury automobiles more accessible financially to those in the middle class.
