Metrostav a.s. is a Czech construction company founded on 1 January 1971 as a spin-off of the national company Vodní stavby, originally tasked with building the Prague metro. [1] The company’s visual identity has been the subject of a notable legal dispute over authorship and modification rights, making its logo history particularly well documented.
Design and History
The original Metrostav logo was created by Czech artist and designer Karel Míšek in the 1980s. The mark is characterized by the wordmark “Metrostav” with a specially graphically modified letter “O.” [2] Míšek also designed the logos for Besip and the Czech Philharmonic, among other institutions. [3]
After 2000, Metrostav modernized its logo without Míšek’s knowledge. The company changed the typeface of the wordmark and added a mosaic in the shape of various paper formats beneath the familiar lettering. [4] In 2006, Metrostav reworked the original style with the participation of another graphic designer, introducing additional distinct typefaces and colors beyond the original white and red, combined with Míšek’s original concepts. [3]
Míšek objected to these changes and took legal action. In November 2016, the High Court in Prague ruled that Metrostav had unlawfully altered the logo and ordered the company to change it, confirming an earlier decision that the firm had modified Míšek’s work in an unauthorized manner at the beginning of the millennium. [4] The court found that the company had debased the original work. [4] The ruling required Metrostav to repaint vehicles, construction machinery, site cabins and covering tarpaulins, with costs estimated in the millions of crowns. [2]
In January 2020, after thirteen years of litigation, Míšek was awarded one million crowns in compensation from Metrostav for the modified logo. [5]
Meaning and Symbolism
The defining feature of Míšek’s original logo is the specially graphically modified letter “O” within the Metrostav wordmark. [6] The original color scheme was white and red. [3] The company’s brand colors have been described as red, white and black. [7]
Typography and Design
Míšek’s original design included a specially created typeface that encompassed the entire alphabet, not just the logo itself. [4] When Metrostav modified the logo after 2000, it changed the typeface of the wordmark, a change that was central to the legal dispute. [4] The court determined that the company’s modification, including the added mosaic element, debased the original work. [4]
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