Magellan Logo PNG
Magellan: Brand overview
Magellan Navigation was founded in 1986 by Ed Tuck in partnership with Boundary Fund, a venture capital fund specializing in technology headquartered in San Dimas, California. Inspired by the name of the famous explorer Ferdinand Magellan, the company quickly became a GPS pioneer. Three years after its founding, it released the NAV 1000, the world’s first commercial handheld GPS receiver, setting the standard for future consumer GPS devices.
During the 1990s, the company gained significant market share with its consumer GPS units, particularly the SporTrak series. In 1994, Magellan was absorbed by Orbital Sciences Corporation, which owned the company until 2001, when it was sold to private investors.
As Magellan entered the new millennium, the company did not stop there. The company continued its innovation by introducing the RoadMate series of portable navigation systems designed for automobiles. The company further expanded its specialization to include passenger cars, SUVs, and off-road vehicles and ventured into mapping software development.
Today, Magellan is a subsidiary of MiTAC International Corporation based in Taiwan. Nevertheless, the company still holds a significant market share and offers a variety of GPS technologies, from outdoor handhelds and surveillance cameras to marine GPS systems.
Meaning and History
1986 – today
The Magellan logo combines a textual element and a graphic symbol, forming a distinctive and well-thought-out representation of the company. The brand name is centered and presented in a strict, modern font with straight lines and angles. The uppercase letters exhibit geometric precision, giving the inscription a sense of style and reliability. This grotesque-style font with a semi-bold weight emphasizes the brand’s confidence and commitment to technological achievements.
The graphic element surrounding the text is an elongated ellipse, symbolizing an orbit. It conveys the brand’s global reach and its focus on navigation and exploration. The shape reflects motion and dynamism, aligning with the company’s activities in navigation technologies. The ellipse frames the text, enhancing the sense of connection and interaction and creating the impression that the brand encompasses the entire world.
At the forefront of the ellipse is a small yet noticeable blue dot. This element is interpreted as a planet or an object in orbit, adding associations with space and navigation to the design. The dot’s position relative to the name gives a sense of movement, as if it orbits around the brand, highlighting technological focus and the pursuit of new horizons.
The visual mark’s color palette consists of rich blue and deep black. The blue ellipse symbolizes reliability, stability, and professionalism, while the black text adds a sense of rigor and emphasis on technological precision. Together, these colors create a harmonious contrast.
The name directly references the famous explorer Ferdinand Magellan, emphasizing a spirit of discovery and exploration that underpins the brand’s mission. The logo visualizes the company’s purpose: to assist with navigation in any conditions by providing high-tech solutions.
The emblem’s composition is built on principles highlighting modern technology and an innovative approach. Straight lines, elongated forms, and the dynamic graphic element make it versatile for use across various mediums, from digital interfaces to printed materials. The concise yet expressive design aligns with the spirit of Magellan, reflecting precision and reliability in navigation.
