Sennheiser is a German company producing audio equipment for professional and personal use. Founded in 1945, just after the Second World War, it began producing microphones but later switched to manufacturing headphones, amplifiers, gaming and aviation headsets, and speakers. Sennheiser audio equipment is known for its high-quality sound and is used extensively by broadcasters, musicians, and sound engineers.
The Sennheiser logo has experienced a thoughtful evolution since the company’s founding. It shows the growth of the company from a German audio laboratory to a leading global brand. The article describes the various logo changes undertaken by the company, among other details.
The Genesis of the Sennheiser Logo (1945 – 1958)
The company began as “Labor W” (short for Laboratorium Wennebostel) in 1945. The first logo in black and white was introduced in 1945, and it featured a geometric emblem in the form of a horizontally-oriented rectangle. It was surrounded on both sides by two black and bold wavy lines in parallel. Inside the rectangle was written the then company name “LABOR” in uppercase and using a solid sans-serif font. Underneath the wordmark was placed a wide stylised “W”.
(1958 – 1980s)
In 1958, when the company was renamed Sennheiser electronic, the first official Sennheiser logo was introduced. Influenced by mid-century design, the logo incorporated the founder’s surname in a straightforward, extra-bold sans-serif typeface. The founder’s surname was placed on the cursive wordmark “Electronic” in lowercase. A small emblem featuring the shape of the previous logo appeared underneath the “Electronic” wordmark with an extended stylised letter “S” inside.
(1980s – 2017)
In the early 1980s, Sennheiser debuted its famous stretched “S” emblem in blue. It had a dynamic shape that suggested sound waves, motion, and technological prowess. The emblem was placed to the left of a logotype in the same colour. The logo featured a geometric, stylised letter “S” housed within a slanted rectangle. It was paired with the Sennheiser wordmark written in a bold, clean typography.
(2017 – Present)
In 2017, Sennheiser launched a refreshed corporate design, which refined both the emblem and the wordmark for a cleaner, more contemporary look. The letter “S” was enhanced for greater visual clarity. In other words, its frame was lightened, and the overall appearance became more open and eye-catching.
The wordmark adopted a narrower, updated sans-serif font to enhance legibility and convey modernity. On the other hand, the colour palette was changed to black and blue to make the logo appear more distinct, sophisticated, and smooth.
The Elements of the Sennheiser Logo
Font
The typeface used in writing the brand name in uppercase that forms part of the Sennheiser logo is a smooth, narrow, minimalist, modern, and futuristic sans-serif. The typeface has similarities with Tolyer No. 1 Medium.
Colour
The colour palette of the Sennheiser logo is black and white, and it evokes a sense of trustworthiness and reliability. When the background is white and the lettering is black, the logo appears traditional. On the other hand, when the colours are reversed, the logo appears chic and sophisticated.
Finally
The evolution of the Sennheiser logo showcases a journey of technological innovation balanced with brand continuity. So, what began with humble, functional beginnings has been fine-tuned to the emblem of today. The logo is a testimony to the enduring values of Sennheiser and its commitment to excellence in audio.