Deutsche Dunlop was the German arm of the Dunlop tire company, operating from Hanau am Main under the name Deutsche Dunlop Gummi Compagnie AG. The German subsidiary was established in 1893 as Dunlop’s first overseas branch, and by the mid-20th century it was producing informational materials and advertising under the Deutsche Dunlop name.[1][2]
Design and History
Documentation for a distinct Deutsche Dunlop logo is limited. One logo database attributes a symbol for Deutsche Dunlop to German graphic designer Hanns Lohrer, dated 1950.[3] Lohrer (1912-1995) was a Stuttgart-based commercial graphic designer and lithographer, considered one of the pioneers of modern advertising graphics in postwar West Germany. He is best known for his work for Porsche in the 1950s and 1960s, and also created designs for Mercedes-Benz, Bosch, Aral, and the German Red Cross.[4][5] However, no primary source has been found that independently confirms Lohrer’s design for Deutsche Dunlop or describes what that mark looked like.
What is better documented is the broader Dunlop identity that would have been used in Germany. The familiar Dunlop “Flying D” mark, a stylized arrow with a circular element and the letter D, was designed by Barry Bendel in 1959 while he worked as a junior art director at Charles F. Higham Advertising in London. It was launched internationally by Dunlop the following year.[6][7] The German trade press confirms that the Flying D arrow symbol was created in the 1960s and became firmly established as the consumer-facing logo.[8]
Before the Flying D, Dunlop’s German operations used a different mascot. While the British company had a “Dunlop dog,” the German colleagues chose a “Dunlop cat” that achieved a degree of cult status at the time. The cat appeared on schoolchildren’s blotting paper with the slogan “Munkel, unser Kater, im Verkehr stets Dein Berater” (Munkel, our tomcat, always your advisor in traffic).[8]
Meaning and Symbolism
The Flying D mark, which became the international Dunlop logo, combines a right-pointing arrow with a circle and the letter D. The arrow symbolizes speed, forward movement, and dynamism, reflecting the brand’s motorsport heritage. The circular ring abstractly represents the tire itself and also suggests a global perspective. The central letter D echoes the brand name.[9]
Typography and Design
The Dunlop wordmark uses a bold serif italic typeface in capital letters, paired with the Flying D icon in red and yellow.[9] The current brand colors include a red tone identified as Thunderbird (hex #D1161D).[10]
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