In 2019, Madrid Metro (Spain) will mark 100 years since the opening of its first line, which ran between Puerta del Sol station and the station located at the Cuatro Caminos depots. Designed by architect Antonio Palacios, the depots are currently at risk of demolition.
To commemorate this milestone, Madrid Metro launched a public call for ideas last November to design a logo that will serve as the corporate image for all centennial celebrations.
According to the company's official news agency, Madrid architect Azucena Herránz won the award with "a modern and innovative design that retains the essence of the current logo without losing its identity, while also evoking past eras. Inside the logo, shaped like the number 100, the word Metro can be read, and the years of its existence, 1919-2019, appear at the bottom."
The logo was chosen by a jury comprising representatives from the Community of Madrid, Madrid Metro, and brand and marketing experts, who faced the difficult task of choosing from over 1,500 submissions from the public. The jury noted that the winning design conveys two key elements for the company: the word "Metro" from the current logo to maintain its original image, and the number 100 integrated into the diamond geometry, with the secondary message of the centennial dates.
Regarding the design, Modesto García, writing on the specialized site Brandemia, commented that "they were looking for a commemorative seal, and unlike commercial brands, we expect these types of seals to be a bit more literal or self-explanatory. This one isn't. It doesn't say anything, or at least it cannot be read."
The graphic language of the design is inspired by two key aspects of Madrid Metro: its history and its modernity. These straightforward premises made the proposal the winner, which aims to pay tribute to the 100 years of history and service now celebrated by Spain's first subway system.
In addition to having her logo selected to identify all centennial-related celebrations for the transit network, the winner received an annual transit pass and 5,000 euros. Four other finalists were also recognized: Jorge Francés Arellano, Vicente Méndez Méndez, José Manuel Otero Amoedo, and Gabriel Sánchez Casero.
This article was written by Javier García Librero. The translation is powered by AI.
