IBM Logo

IBM Logo PNG

The company is a well-known software and hardware developer; its manufacturability and availability of products are reflected in the modern emblem. The IBM logo symbolizes efficiency, speed, and quality, which is the main asset of the brand’s products.

Meaning and History

Since its inception, the digital corporation has had several names until it received the International Business Machines. It was this that formed the basis of the corporate identity and was played on the logo. There are eight modifications in total.

What is IBM?

IBM is a US company that is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of software and hardware. She is also engaged in consulting services and IT services. The time of its foundation is 1911. Founder – Charles Ranlett Flint.

1889 – 1914

The debut emblem is formed from the monogram, which consists of the capital letters of the company’s then name – International Time Recording Company. Each sign has a unique arrangement: “ITR” is in one row, and “Co” is below, forming an original platform. “T” is zoomed in and looks much larger than the adjacent characters. “C” is extended in breadth and serves as a support for it.

1890 – 1914

Almost in parallel with the first logo, a second appeared when the firm was renamed the Computing Scale Company. Management pondered the style and graphics briefly, using the monogramming technique to combine the capital letters from the company name. But CSC is played in a different design – streamlined, in the form of curls. The letter “C” has been made large: it contains “S” (center) and “Co” (side right). The abbreviation is decorated with original ornaments.

1910 – 1924

During the new status acquisition, the company underwent a major rebranding, which was reflected in the name and branding. The result was a structure called the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company and an emblem based on the CTRCo monogram. They also received a specific arrangement: in the foreground, there is a large “T,” behind it is an “R,” on the left is “C,” and on the right is “Co.” And the leg “T” goes through the curl “R,” and the logo itself looks like a print.

1924 – 1946

In 1924, the era of International Business Machines kicked off. At first, the abbreviation was not used: the developers took the company’s full name as a basis, typing the words in the form of a globe with a wide equator encircling it. “Business” is written at the top, “Machines” below, and “International” in the middle, symbolizing the universal coverage of countries with new technologies.

1946 – 1956

This period brought a fundamental change in the company’s strategy, turning it into a promising giant. Naturally, the next rebranding affected the visual identity. Designers suggested leaving the florid ornaments to focus on manufacturability, simplicity, and accessibility. The result of this approach is a completely new logo, consisting of an abbreviated version of International Business Machines. The large blue letters are set apart from each other and are complemented by small serifs.

1956 – 1962

The version of this period has almost everything in common with the previous logo, with a few exceptions. So, the designers enlarged the serifs, making them more expressive, increased the in-letter gaps at “B,” and sharpened the central part of the “M.” The color and style were left the same.

1962 – 1972

1962 played a colossal role in the history of the IBM logo. It was then that the designer Paul Rand applied a “linear” approach to it, that is, he lined up the letters on stripes of equal width. At first, there were thirteen of them. Why exactly so many? Just as the author intended, such a width is ideal to understand that these are improvised wires. And the size of the letters contained exactly that many lines.

1972 – today

In 1972, a slight redesign was undertaken: the main developer replaced thirteen stripes with eight. They are assumed to represent the 8-bit system. But the author himself claims: the lines convey speed and dynamics in the emblem.

2018 – today

Simultaneously with the blue and white striped version, the strict gray and white version is in use. The company name abbreviation is enclosed in a lead rectangle. This visual interpretation reflects the stability and responsibility that the corporation provides to its customers.

Font and Colors

Until 1947, the style of monogram monograms with curls and graceful patterns prevailed in the corporate logo. Then a strict version appeared, which is still used today. The only thing that unites them is the abbreviation. All logos are based on the principle of abbreviated company names. Modern versions are practical, solid, and precise in geometry.

In 1947, they used Beton typeface. In 1956, Paul Rand replaced it with City. He also tweaked the shape of the capital letters by increasing the serifs. The logo’s color scheme has always been simple: at first, black and white prevailed, now blue and white.

IBM color codes