FLAT PLAN

Understanding how design is evolving with the rise of technology in our lives is key to making sense of why BMW, Volkswagen and even Audi have refreshed their logos

- AATISH MISHRA

EVERYONE’S BEEN TALKING about the BMW i4’s grille, but no one seems to be talking about what sits right above it! The BMW logo has been given a refresh for the first time in over 20 years, and well, it has polarised opinions much like the car’s grille! The new logo is a flatter design, without the visual enhancements like the shadows and embellishments that give the older logo a 3D effect. We’ll get specifically to the BMW logo in a bit but this switch is not an isolated case. Last year, Volkswagen unveiled its new brand logo and identity alongside (incidentally, another electric car) the ID.3. Volkswagen’s new logo follows the same style — it is minimalist, has gotten rid of the 3D effect and chrome treatment on the older logo. Prior to this, in 2017, Audi rid itself of the shadows in its rings and as of last month, Nissan filed for trademarks for its new flat design logo.

The world is flat

To understand what is changing when it comes to car logo design, let us compare the two logos side by side. First up, the BMW logo. BMW’s logo has changed a number of times in the company’s history but this change is the most significant one yet. The most obvious change is the flat style — no longer does it have borders that are as thick on each element and the 3D effect is gone. That means there are no highlights and shadowy areas, and there is no texture on it. The older design follows an idea called skeuomorphism where an object on a digital interface mimics its real world counterpart, but that is a style that is now considered dated.