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BMW’s new flat logo is everything that’s wrong with modern logo design

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Re: BMW’s new flat logo is everything that’s wrong with modern logo design

#171
post #102

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Commenters are saying BMW has stated clearly they will not use the new logo on their products (cars). Everybody here is tripping for no reason.

They showed the flat logo as a badge on their new concept car, right when they announced it. Maybe they are backtracking now, but it seems pretty clear their original intent was to put it on the cars.

They said it during the launch of the new logo: https://www.press.bmwgroup.com/global/article/detail/T030630...

Re: BMW’s new flat logo is everything that’s wrong with modern logo design

#172
The author has a point, but they seem to have missed the fact that BMW already announced that they won't be using it on cars (well, probably other cars than the concept car featured in the article). It is only for marketing material:

https://www.press.bmwgroup.com/global/article/detail/T030630...

> The new logo is a new media branding and will be used in addition to the existing logo. It won’t be use (sic) on the vehicles or in the exterior and interior labeling our dealerships, the existing logo remains in use there.

Re: BMW’s new flat logo is everything that’s wrong with modern logo design

#173
post #93

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Okay, help someone who never learned anything about graphic design from anyone. why isn't it well composed?

Compare the lettering on the two versions. The use of 3D-ish black and fake embossing on the original makes the letters pop. The lack of both on the new version makes the letters look like they've been crammed into a tiny space at the top of a big empty ring. This might have worked with new lettering with different proportions. But it's literally just a flat copy of the original letter shapes, without any of the orig…

> print/blueprint/engineering marker/quadrant

I believe the logo was originally intended to represent a propeller.

Re: BMW’s new flat logo is everything that’s wrong with modern logo design

#174

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Compare the lettering on the two versions. The use of 3D-ish black and fake embossing on the original makes the letters pop. The lack of both on the new version makes the letters look like they've been crammed into a tiny space at the top of a big empty ring. This might have worked with new lettering with different proportions. But it's literally just a flat copy of the original letter shapes, without any of the orig…

> print/blueprint/engineering marker/quadrant I believe the logo was originally intended to represent a propeller.

Yes! It’s a propeller against a blue sky.

Re: BMW’s new flat logo is everything that’s wrong with modern logo design

#175

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Compare the lettering on the two versions. The use of 3D-ish black and fake embossing on the original makes the letters pop. The lack of both on the new version makes the letters look like they've been crammed into a tiny space at the top of a big empty ring. This might have worked with new lettering with different proportions. But it's literally just a flat copy of the original letter shapes, without any of the orig…

> print/blueprint/engineering marker/quadrant I believe the logo was originally intended to represent a propeller.

BMW has refuted this idea.

https://www.logodesignlove.com/bmw-logo-evolution

Re: BMW’s new flat logo is everything that’s wrong with modern logo design

#177
post #2

I'm no designer.. but the new logo looks horrendous. From the few design principles I do know, it appears they took all of them and did the exact opposite. If they wanted to stick with flat design, they could have easily repurposed their existing logo without beveling/lighting to achieve what would likely be a much better result.

Their old old logo was literally their old one without the bad 3D effect. Everything old is new again. Except this weird monstrosity.

New Coke https://www.everything80spodcast.com/new-coke/

Re: BMW’s new flat logo is everything that’s wrong with modern logo design

#178

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The e32, e34, e38 and e39 series are iconic and really good cars. Just like MB's w123 and w124 series. Today, not so much.

Surprised you didn't mention the e36. The car modding enthusiast community loves the e36.

I forgot it. Also a prime example. Thanks for adding it

Re: BMW’s new flat logo is everything that’s wrong with modern logo design

#179

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Compare the lettering on the two versions. The use of 3D-ish black and fake embossing on the original makes the letters pop. The lack of both on the new version makes the letters look like they've been crammed into a tiny space at the top of a big empty ring. This might have worked with new lettering with different proportions. But it's literally just a flat copy of the original letter shapes, without any of the orig…

> print/blueprint/engineering marker/quadrant I believe the logo was originally intended to represent a propeller.

I am quite sure it is just one square of the traditional white and blue bavarian checkers pattern, with Bavaria coincidentally standing for the "B" in BMW

Re: BMW’s new flat logo is everything that’s wrong with modern logo design

#180

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Compare the lettering on the two versions. The use of 3D-ish black and fake embossing on the original makes the letters pop. The lack of both on the new version makes the letters look like they've been crammed into a tiny space at the top of a big empty ring. This might have worked with new lettering with different proportions. But it's literally just a flat copy of the original letter shapes, without any of the orig…

Hate to break it to you, but all these "problems" with the logo were exactly the same in the old logo. You got distracted by the ham-fisted layer styles and fooled into thinking that made it good. The fact that you said "makes the letters pop" would send shivers down any designer's spine.

Having the text as negative space on dark is still perceptually different to having it on a transparent background (which is perceived as negative space). This is enough to make it feel unbalanced.

See here: https://i.imgur.com/uW4TGX2.png

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