What the work is
Renault adopted the diamond as its emblem in 1925. This brief follows three turning points: its adaptation to angled car bonnets, the 1972 redesign and the flat identity introduced in 2021.
How it was made
The diamond followed a circular badge that covered a horn grille. In 1972, Victor Vasarely and his son Yvaral rebuilt it with parallel lines, removing the Renault name. The Renault 5 first carried that version.
What works
The outline supplies continuity while the internal drawing changes. This makes the sequence useful for studying how an identity can retain a recognizable structure without freezing every detail of its appearance.
What does not
Recognition is not the same as legibility in every application. Closely spaced lines, a metal vehicle badge and a small screen icon pose different problems; a historical sequence alone cannot demonstrate equal performance across them.
What it influenced
The 2021 redesign returned to lines through two optically intertwined diamonds. Renault described its flat treatment as suitable for animation, connecting the badge’s graphic history with moving digital applications.
Is it worth your time
Worth studying as successive responses to changing media. Compare the 1925, 1972 and 2021 versions at the same size, then examine what the move from a physical grille to an animated mark changes.
