Harman Kardon is one of the greatest brands in the world of stereo equipment. It was founded in 1953. The names of its founders, Sidney Harman and Bernard Kardon, gave the name to the brand. Today the company is owned by the Harman International, a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics.
Meaning and history
Harman Kardon was founded in 1953 by Sidney Harman and Bernard Kardon in Westbury, New York. The duo, both former employees of the David Bogen Company, started with a $10,000 investment to create high-fidelity audio equipment for home use, aiming to simplify complex systems for everyday consumers.
The company pioneered several innovations, including the Festival D-1000 in 1954, the world’s first integrated hi-fi receiver, and the Festival TA-230 in 1958, the first high-fidelity stereo receiver. In 1970, they introduced the CAD5, the first stereophonic cassette deck with Dolby B noise reduction, and later expanded into automotive audio.
Today, Harman Kardon is a division of Harman International Industries, a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics, focusing on automotive, consumer, and professional audio segments, with products featured in vehicles from brands like BMW and Toyota.
19?? – Today
The logo is simple and stylish. The classic typeface of the all-lowercase wordmark makes the logo highly recognizable. The name is styled as “harman / kardon” and the slash is a very memorable and significant element of the logo. It is actually the only element except lettering.
The monochrome palette adds elegance and sophistication to the brand’s identity. It also symbolizes stability of the brand and its value of quality.
The Harman Kardon logo is a perfect example of timeless classic and style. Simplicity elevated the design and gives a sense of trust to the brand.