Johnson Matthey is a United Kingdom-based science and technology company specializing in platinum group metals and advanced materials chemistry. The company, founded by Percival Norton Johnson in 1817, introduced its current brand identity in May 2017, timed to its 200th anniversary. The refresh was developed with brand consultancy Saffron, which partnered with Johnson Matthey to modernize the brand while honoring its two-century legacy. [1] [2]
Design and History
In May 2017, Johnson Matthey revealed a refreshed brand identity built around the tagline “inspiring science, enhancing life.” The company stated the new identity reflected its position as a science-led company with a major positive impact on people’s lives, unifying its diverse work in catalysts, pharmaceutical ingredients, and battery technology under a common theme. [1]
Brand consultancy Saffron partnered with Johnson Matthey on the refresh, describing the work as modernizing the brand for the future while honoring the company’s 200-year legacy. Saffron noted that Johnson Matthey needed to unify a fragmented organization and communicate its purpose, and that the updated identity was developed to resonate with employees and stakeholders alike. [2] [3]
The company announced the organizational restructuring that accompanied the brand launch in April 2017, stating that the refreshed identity would reinforce Johnson Matthey’s brand position as “first and foremost a science led company.” The launch coincided with the company’s 200th anniversary celebrations. [4]
Meaning and Symbolism
The brand tagline “inspiring science, enhancing life” was chosen to reflect Johnson Matthey’s position as a science-led company whose work has a major positive impact on people’s lives. The company described its work as unified by a common theme: to enhance quality of life, from catalysts that enable cleaner air to pharmaceutical ingredients that improve health. [1]
The current wordmark is rendered in a deep blue, with the hex color #1E22AA identified among the company’s brand colors. [5]
Typography and Design
The Johnson Matthey identity uses a typographic wordmark format, placing the company name at the center of the visual identity. The wordmark appears alongside the tagline “Inspiring science, enhancing life” in official brand applications. [1] [6]
Logo Index is an independent educational archive covering logos, visual identities and graphic design history. All trademarks and brand assets remain the property of their respective owners.
