Peter Saville gives Aston Martin wings logo an overhaul for a new era

Over its 109-year history, Aston Martin has only gone through eight different badges, with the vast majority of them following a general pattern and design that was established as far back as 1932. Before that, the nascent company had relied on a simple ‘AM’ logotype, before creating a stylised, wing-shaped device that fitted with the era’s obsession with speed, swiftness, and aerodynamics. 

Now there’s a new iteration of the wings, the badge that not only appears on the bonnet of every Aston Martin sports car, but which graces dealerships and letterheads, websites and F1 cars, along with a refinement of the typography, graphic language, and colour palette the company uses.

In short, it’s a new corporate identity, fittingly timed to match a change in leadership (new CEO Amedeo Felisa joined in May 2022) and a new generation of cars.

Working alongside Aston Martin’s in-house design team and typeface studio Dalton Maag is a familiar face. Peter Saville was tapped for the role by Aston Martin’s CCO and EVP Marek Reichman.

‘Peter is an icon in British graphic design and an inspirational creative figure to me personally,’ says Reichman. ‘He took our exploration and evolution of the wings to another level.’

The wings have been honed and streamlined, with the internal ‘curve’ element removed for a cleaner appearance. Designed to be used in digital assets as well as on the traditional enamelled bonnet badge, the logo is instantly recognisable.

‘To see this new identity, hand-crafted in physical form at Vaughtons silversmiths in Birmingham’s jewellery quarter, is a proud moment for everyone involved,’ Reichman says, ‘It's the first step to the wings taking centre stage on our next generation of ultra-luxury performance sports cars.’

The first car to bear the new wings is still a few months away; Aston is committed to an ambitious programme of new models, including the mid-engined Valhalla and substantial revisions to its core sports car models, the DB11, Vantage, and DBS. 

‘The Aston Martin wings update is a classic example of the necessary evolution of logotypes of provenance,’ Saville explains, drawing parallels between Aston Martin and other storied luxury brands. ‘Subtle but necessary enhancements not only keep forms fresh, but allow for new technologies, situations and applications to be accommodated in the future. The process was one of clarifying and emphasising the key feature of the Aston Martin marque.’

The corporate identity will be gradually rolled out over the next 18 months, along with a renewed focus on the emotional case for the brand. A new visual campaign, ‘Intensity. Driven.’, accompanies the new wings, using the physiological effects generated by cars like the extreme Aston Martin Valkyrie to create bold graphic elements. 

Like all the major luxury car makers, Aston Martin is taking a hitherto untrodden path to electrification. Getting a new generation of customers on board will be essential to secure the brand’s second century.

INFORMATION

astonmartin.com