British automaker MG is well-known for its high-performance vehicles. William Morris founded the company in 1924. Since 2007, SAIC, one of China’s leading automakers, has controlled the brand.
Meaning and history
MG is an abbreviation for Morris Garage, the original corporate name. The brand’s visual identity reflects the company’s classic and refined approach to vehicle design and production, which it has developed over many years.
Just what does “MG” stand for?
The MG Motor Company was founded in the UK at the start of the 1920s and is a maker of automobiles. The company’s ownership has changed hands roughly 10 times throughout the years, and now it is a subsidiary of the Chinese SAIC Motor Corporation Limited.
1924 – 1927
In contrast to subsequent badges designed for the carmaker, the original MG symbol stood out. The original logo was a blue circle with a silver and red shield in the middle and two lines of text on each side. Morris Oxford was written in all capitals using a sophisticated sans-serif typeface, while the rest of the wordmark was designed using the title case of a classic serif typeface.
1927 – 1952
After being reimagined in 1927, the MG logo is now instantly recognisable the world over. The octagon was brown and gold, and it had the initials “MG” in the centre. There were bars around the letters that were the same width and distance apart as the octagonal border. Additionally, they were all typeset in the same mellow and light brown that complemented the geometric badge’s gradient gold backdrop so well.
1952 – 1962
As of 1952, all gradations and hues have been eliminated. At this point, MG adopted a more spare aesthetic, using a black and white colour scheme for its immediately recognisable angular emblem. The logo’s contemporary and forward-thinking appearance was achieved by its use of flat forms, sharp angles, and a classic colour palette. It was also quite evocative of the brand’s authority and expertise.
1962 – 1990
After being redesigned in 1962, the emblem became more intricate and sophisticated. The octagon’s design had a complete makeover, going from shiny and bright to matte and gradient, and the logo’s overall volume increased. It was then set atop a shiny, solid black crest with a broad, flat top. The crest’s twin white and black outline allowed it to stand out against any colour scheme or headdress without compromising its distinctiveness.
1990 – 2010
The crest was removed from the emblem in 1990, leaving the octagon as the only geometric element of the MG symbol. Smoother and thicker than before, with slightly curved lines and a fresh colour scheme are the most noticeable changes. The brown and gold of the 1927 design were echoed in the badge, but with a more luxurious twist. The lettering and border are now outlined in silver, and the formerly solid gold backdrop now has horizontal stripes. A glossy gradient was applied to the whole insignia, giving it a modern and upscale appearance.
2010 – 2021
While keeping the same basic outline, the new logo has a glossy gradient silver hue for the letters set against a white backdrop and a contemporary black logotype set in a bespoke typeface below the insignia.
2021 – Today
The classic MG logo has been updated for the year 2021 to make it simpler and brighter. The emblem has kept its original form and aesthetic, but its design has become flat and two-dimensional. By switching the colour of the insignia’s clean grip lines from silver to traditional red, the emblem was given a more contemporary, refreshed appearance and began to convey force and mobility in ways that its predecessors had not. The emblem may be affixed to any surface thanks to the striking contrast between the scarlet-red text and frame and the white backdrop.
Style of text and hue
The Morris Garages logo, adopted as part of the company’s new visual identity in 2010, has an all-caps monogram set in a bespoke font with medium-thick bars and slightly rounded terminals. Custom-made for the company, the typeface takes inspiration from either Stereo Gothic 700, Organetto Bold, or Ateros Regular.
In keeping with its timeless ideals, quality, and elegance, the MG logo’s silver, black, and white colour scheme is basic but classy and sleek. It also reveals the automaker’s underlying philosophy behind how they manage manufacturing and design their renowned automobile models.
