BP Logo

BP LogoBP Logo PNG

The world’s largest oil and gas producer, British Petroleum, changed its corporate identity after renaming in 2001. Now, the BP logo features Helios, a god from Greek mythology, symbolizing the energy of all kinds and the breadth of the product range.

BP: Brand overview

BP is one of the world’s largest multinational oil and gas corporations. It has existed since 1909 and was founded by entrepreneur William Knox D’Arcy. The company’s headquarters are located in London, UK.

Meaning and History

BP Logo History

Originally, the company was called the Anglo-Persian Oil Company, as it was involved in oil and gas extraction in the Persian region. The company also included Burmah Oil Company, which was its subsidiary. Now, it is a large corporation that covers 70 countries with its professional attention. Its emblem has evolved from a simple monochrome abbreviation to complex color graphics.

What is BP?

BP is one of the seven largest oil and gas companies in the world, belonging to the so-called “supermajors.” In addition to the extraction and processing of fossil fuels, it is engaged in the production of fuels and lubricants. Also, it develops projects in the field of renewable energy sources. The organization got its current name in 2001, using the initials “British Petroleum.”

1909 – 1920

BP Logo 1909

The oil and gas company BP originated in 1909 as the Anglo-Persian Oil Company. Its first product was BP Motor Spirit gasoline, sold in the UK in the 1920s. In advertisements, the brand name was divided into three lines and centered. At the top were the letters “B.P.” – an abbreviation of British Petroleum. The middle row was occupied by the word “MOTOR” with an elongated downward letter “M,” and below it – “SPIRIT” with an enlarged letter “S.” The inscription used a bold sans-serif font, similar to a combination of Code Pro Bold Caps from Fontfabric and Königsberg Semi Bold from Sharkshock. The black text was placed inside a white square with rounded corners—a wide, dark stripe runs along the edge of the base.

1920 – 1930

BP Logo 1920-1930

The official debut logo of the oil and gas company appeared in 1920. Its central element was a shortened version of the new name – British Petroleum. The letters “BP” became the main and only detail of the brand name. They were enclosed in quotation marks, colored black, and placed on an absolutely white background. The logo would have no individuality if not for the unique glyphs with characteristic sharp serifs and diamond-shaped angles.

1930 – 1947

BP Logo 1930-1947

For the next 17 years, a unique corporate symbol prevailed, for which the designers placed the abbreviation “BP” on a heraldic shield. It has a black edge and the same black letters in the center. The author of this version is BP Saunders.

1947 – 1961

BP Logo 1947-1961

In 1947, the company’s management decided to improve the logo and ordered a color version. As a result, the shield became multicolored – muted green. It was outlined with a thin yellow stripe, and the same inscription as before appeared in the center – “BP,” but without quotation marks and in color. To give the letters volume, artists used black shadows on the right side.

1961 – 1989

BP Logo 1961-1989

At the beginning of this period, a group of designers started updating the logo. Renowned specialist Raymond Loewy led them. The shape and contours of the brand name remained the same; only the color changed. The artists replaced green with green-blue, removed the border from the shield, removed the shadows, and made the inscription distinctly yellow, close to a golden hue. The glyphs were also changed, but the serifs were not touched – they remained sharp and of the same shape.

1989 – 2000

BP Logo 1989-2000

After nearly 20 years of using the logo, the company decided to rework it again, linking this to a revision of the corporate image. This time, it turned to Siegel & Gale for help. It offered a completely different version, corresponding to the progressive style.

As a result, green became true green – a rich palette and yellow turned into a sunny color. The shield became thickened at the bottom and devoid of sharp protrusions at the top. The letters became italic with a slight tilt to the right.

2000 – today

BP Logo 2000-present

British Petroleum introduced a new emblem in response to media outrage over low safety standards. The idea of sunlight is accurately implemented in it, as the graphic “flower” resembles the sun, for which it was named Helios.

2000 was a turning point for the logo, as it moved away from outdated standards. The progressive development of Landor Associates truly symbolizes the radiant energy of the celestial body. On the right side of the graphic image is the lowercase letter “bp,” formed from the new name of the company – Beyond Petroleum.

Font and Colors

BP Emblem

For the first hundred years, the oil and gas company used symbols built around the BP abbreviation inside a knight’s shield. The onset of the 21st century radically changed the emblem, shifting the focus to graphics.

BP Symbol

In old versions, the textual part was primary, so it was given great importance. The caps had serifs and a wide frame, emphasizing the stability and strength of the company. The new logo’s font is modern and more stylish – smooth, rounded, sans-serif, with a well-played “mirror” writing of the lowercase letter “bp.”

Regarding color, the entire evolution of the emblem is a transformation of the palette. The original version is black and white. Then, green and yellow of different shades appeared in it.

BP color codes

Islamic GreenHex color:#009b00
RGB:0 155 0
CMYK:100 0 100 39
Pantone:PMS 354 C
Yellow GreenHex color:#98ce00
RGB:152 206 0
CMYK:26 0 100 19
Pantone:PMS 375 C
YellowHex color:#ffff00
RGB:255 255 0
CMYK:0 0 100 0
Pantone:PMS 396 C

FAQ

Why did BP change its logo?

Oil and gas giant BP updated its logo as part of a new marketing campaign that cost $200 million. The sunflower-shaped emblem was meant to emphasize the company’s ecological image and convey that it is involved not only in the extraction of fossil fuels but also in the production of alternative energy sources, which help improve the state of the environment.

What does the BP emblem mean?

The modern BP emblem was named Helios after the solar deity from ancient Greek religion. It represents a sunflower consisting of a white center and three rows of petals: yellow, yellow-green, and green. But the floral element is much more than it seems. It symbolizes energy in all its manifestations.