beyerdynamic GmbH & Co. KG is a German audio equipment manufacturer founded in 1924 in Berlin as “Elektrotechnische Fabrik Eugen Beyer.” The company became known as BEYERDYNAMIC in the 1950s and relocated to Heilbronn, where it remains based today.[1]
Design and History
On August 30, 2018, beyerdynamic unveiled a new visual identity at the Internationale Funkausstellung (IFA) in Berlin, marking what the company described as the beginning of a new era.[2] The rebranding included a new logo, a new color palette, and a new brand direction under the slogan “Your Beyerdynamic.”[3]
The centerpiece of the new identity is a redesigned signet featuring the letter “Y,” which symbolizes the middle of the name of company founder Eugen Beyer, representing the company’s values and roots.[2] The Y-shaped symbol was reportedly derived from a marking pattern that beyerdynamic engraved on its products in the 1960s.[4] The new symbol can be used independently from the wordmark as a decorative element, such as in banners, images, or as a presentation surface at trade show booths.[2]
The redesign also removed the sound wave symbol “))))” that had been part of the wordmark since the 1970s, while retaining lowercase lettering to bridge the old and new identities.[4] According to the Süddeutsche Zeitung, a “B” was considered as a logo option but was rejected because it was already associated with competitor Beats.[5]
The new brand identity was designed by an internal team.[4]
Meaning and Symbolism
The Y symbol carries multiple meanings. Beyond referencing founder Eugen Beyer’s name, it was also adopted to represent concepts including “change” and the brand name’s center.[6] Japanese tech press also noted that the Y shape evokes the form of earphone cables.[7]
The new color concept replaced the previous blue and beige palette with a strong orange tone, three shades of gray, and black. According to beyerdynamic, the orange accents symbolize energy, joy of life, brightness, and warmth, and are intended to embody the closeness the company wants to create with its customers through its products.[2]
Typography and Design
The new wordmark uses the typeface MONT, which beyerdynamic states symbolizes values such as functionality, aesthetics, completeness, and reduction.[2] The German design publication Designtagebuch noted that the redesign replaced the previous typeface Trade Gothic with MONT, and described the change as one of the most comprehensive redesigns at beyerdynamic in recent decades.[8]
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