Aston Martin is one of the most prestigious British automobile manufacturers that is synonymous with luxury, performance, and timeless design. Based in Gaydon, Warwickshire, England, the company manufacturers high-end cars. A crucial aspect of its identity is its iconic logo, which has evolved significantly since the company’s inception. This article explores the history and transformation of the Aston Martin emblem over the years.
The Genesis of the Aston Martin Logo (1921 – 1926)
The earliest Aston Martin logo featured a simple yet elegant circular badge where the initials of the company in brown-black, “A” and “M”, were intertwined. Set against a light bronze background, the initials in a classic typeface appeared stylish and expensive. The emblem was minimalist and exuded a sense of sophistication.
(1927 – 1930)
In 1927, Aston Martin redesigned its logo, which marked the beginning of its iconic winged emblem. The logo featured two spread-out bronze wings with the brand name in uppercase etched on them. The letter “M” was right in the middle and was connected to the horizontal elements of the letter “T” on either side. The inspiration behind this design stemmed from the idea of speed, agility, and aviation. It reflected the emphasis of the brand on high-performance vehicles.
(1930 – 1932)
In 1930, the previous logo was slightly modified by changing the colour palette to silver. Besides, the shape of the wings was made sharper and more triangular. The wings too showed ornate designs.
(1932 – 1939)
The 1932 logo became simpler, and the wings were flattened out. The brand name was placed at the centre within a small, horizontally stretched black rectangle with a golden outline. The simple typeface and the sleek wings with “feathers” made the logo appear luxurious.
(1939 – 1950)
In this logo redesign, the colour palette was changed to silver and black. Besides, the shape of the wings became more angular.
(1950 – 1971)
In 1947, Aston Martin was acquired by David Brown, which was reflected in the logo as well. The wordmark featured the words “DAVID BROWN” and “ASTON MARTIN” in two levels and sizes. The background colour of the two-tier rectangle with a silver outline in which the words were featured was beige.
(1971 – 1972)
The previous logo was given a slight refinement in colour. For instance, silver was replaced with gold to make the overall logo look more luxurious.
(1972 – 1984)
After the departure of David Brown from the company, Aston Martin updated its logo once again by removing his name. A new colour palette was added to the logo, wherein the background was given a cold grey tone, while the golden lines were made lighter.
(1984 – 2003)
In 1984, the outlines of the logo were thickened and the wordmark was enlarged. However, the letters were narrowed to make the overall logo look less sophisticated.
(1987 – 2021)
The logo of this era featured the wordmark in a simple font inside a dark green rectangle. The contours of the wings in monochrome were refined, and the logo exuded a sense of authority and expertise. It embodied the features of Aston Martin – professionalism, freedom, speed, prestige, and superiority.
(2021 – Present)
In 2021, the colour palette of the Aston Martin logo was made black and white. The lines on the wings were emboldened and the wordmark was made bigger. At the junction of the wings at the bottom, a small triangular notch looking like the short and forked tail of the bird appeared.
The Elements of the Aston Martin Logo
Font
The uppercase wordmark of the Aston Martin logo is written using a medium-weight sans-serif typeface having smooth lines and well-proportioned characters. The font used to write the wordmark is similar to Carisma Classic DemiBold and Faber Sans Pro 75 Halbfett.
Colour
Aston Martin employs a classic black-and-white palette, which exudes a sense of timeless elegance. This simple yet powerful contrast conveys the confidence and prestige of the brand and reinforces its reputation for luxury and performance.
Finally
The Aston Martin logo has undergone a fascinating evolution over more than a century. It started its journey from a simple monogram and later embraced the iconic winged emblem to represent speed, luxury, and prestige. Despite multiple refinements, the brand has remained true to its core identity, that is, by seamlessly blending heritage with innovation.