Merck Group Logo PNG
Innovation, progress, development – all this is embedded in the logo of Merck Group. It symbolizes an unconventional approach to solving complex issues, which is exactly what the scientific and technological company does. The logo also embodies innovation and the amazing discoveries made by scientists.
Meaning and History
The Merck brand dates back to 1668, when Friedrich Jacob Merck (after whom the company is named) bought Engel-Apotheke in Darmstadt. All these years, she worked successfully because by the time she succeeded Emanuel Merck, she had an excellent foundation for scientific discoveries. A descendant of the founder took advantage of the opportunity and made several innovative discoveries in chemistry: he invented several drugs and characterized several alkaloids. This happened in 1816.
A few years later (in 1827), a young pharmacist began producing medicines. Then, with the support of his relatives, he built a factory where he began producing raw materials for medicines and many chemical compounds. In 1891, one of the founders’ descendants (Georg Merck) opened a branch of the company in the United States, which eventually became the subject of long legal disputes. The fact is that after the First World War, its New York subsidiary was seized and turned into an independent company. Then the parent company’s areas of work expanded: in addition to the chemical and pharmaceutical industries, they also included the biomedical and electronics industries.
The change in the Merck Group’s visual identity is associated not only with the company’s success but also with problems. The current logo updates are driven by lawsuits and legal disputes with a New York-based firm that was formerly its US subsidiary and was subsequently forcibly spun off. As a result, over the pharmaceutical plant’s centuries-long history, there are eight different types of emblems. Some of them are completely different from each other, as if they have no common platform. Many logos (dating from the 17th and 18th centuries) are unknown, so their history dates back to the 19th century.
What is Merck Group?
Merck Group is an international organization that brings together about 250 divisions of the chemical, pharmaceutical, electronics, medical, and biological industries. It is the oldest pharmacy in the field and was originally a pharmacy in the city of Darmstadt (Germany), where its headquarters are still located. The company was founded in 1668. Founder: Friedrich Jacob Merck. It now operates in 66 countries worldwide.
1838 – 1850
Emanuel Merck, who had a scientific education, was seriously engaged in pharmacy. Therefore, his name is indicated on the logo. The inscription is handwritten and located at the top, in a long, half-oval with the bottom cut off. Below is an image of a deity associated with medicine, science, biology, and pharmacology. The character is depicted in full growth; he has wings and light clothes fluttering in the wind. In his hands, he holds a curly ribbon.
1850 – 1900
The logo of this period is a round seal. It consists of two zones, each surrounded by a thin ring. The central part is occupied by a multi-component construction comprising a shield, eight plants on long stems, and two human figures holding branches. They are combined into a common composition. Further in a circle are the words “Merck,” “Darmstadt,” “Eingetragene,” and “Schutzmarke.” Dots separate the top and bottom parts.
1900 – 1935
In 1900, the era of the Merck text emblem began. Therefore, it flaunts the inscription “E. Merck. It is typed in a very elegant grotesque: the letters resemble the signs of the Old English alphabet. And due to the extensions at the ends of the “M,” it looks like the Greek “Ω.” The remaining symbols are Gothic, with triangular elements at the top.
1912 – 1935
In parallel with the printed version of the logo, there was a handwritten version. Emanuel Merck’s personal signature, the head of the company, was used as the basis. It is a cursory, semi-connected type, with a small space between “M” and “e.” From the letter “k,” a long loop goes to the left.
1935 – 1968
After the design update, the letter “E” disappeared from the Merck logo: only the name of the founding dynasty was preserved. The writing style used is the same as in 1900-1935. These are black Gothic letters with triangular protrusions at the top. The “M” has only the right curved element left: the left one is absolutely even. The first and last characters have serifs; the rest do not.
1968 – 2001
In 1968, the visual identity was redesigned, after which the name’s style became more modern. Now the text is typed not in Gothic characters but in the usual Roman font. The inscription is converted to uppercase and painted in neon blue. The “R” has an upward curved leg, which makes the logo look sophisticated.
2001 – 2015
During this period, designers turned the simple “Merck” lettering into a unique element. To do this, they added colors and graphics to the logo, resulting in an emblem with chopped letters, complemented by red and yellow dashes. The vertical strokes almost merge with the “M,” the left leg of which is also made of short lines (two). The blue color has become a bit muted. Ian Brignell suggested the concept for this emblem.
2015 – today
Although the current logo consists of text, it appears to be a graphic. Letters of an unusual shape are pushing toward this conclusion. They look more like stone sculptures or vague figures than typical symbols from the alphabet. They were made so by the FutureBrand studio, which Merck entrusted with updating the identity.
Font and Colors
Pharmaceutical, biological, and chemical processes inspire Merck’s visual identity. This is seen in several versions of the logo dating back to the 20th and 21st centuries because the logo itself is very old. In the early versions, ancient images of gods, heraldry, curly ribbons, and seals predominated. But gradually, they were replaced by thematic aspects – for example, an ecosystem of elements, transmitted in the form of empirical microbes, energy flows, distinct cells, and bright colors. In fact, the identity reflects the harmonious balance of science and technology.
The key element is the non-standard “M,” played in numerous variations. It is through her that dynamics and technological innovations are transmitted. It unites all departments of Merck. In addition, the designers dressed the letters in various “biochemical” textures and gave them an unusual shape. They were able to achieve this thanks to a custom typeface that resembles You Blockhead Regular. The logos use Lato, Clarendon 816 Regular, Clarendon FS Bold, and a Dosis SemiBold analog.
At first, the corporate palette was monochrome, consisting of black and white. In later versions, bright colors appeared: red, yellow, and blue in several shades (from neon to pastel spectrum).