MIDI, the global standard that allows digital musical instruments to talk to each other, has a new brand identity based on sound waves designed by Pentagram.
The logo for MIDI, which stands for Musical Instrument Digital Interface, was created by Pentagram partner and musician Yuri Suzuki together with graphic designer and partner Sascha Lobe.
This refresh of MIDI's identity replaces its previous wordmark and follows the 2020 release of MIDI 2.0, the first significant update of the standard in over 35 years.
Top image: the new MIDI logo. Above: references for the Pentagram design
"In January of 2020 we adopted MIDI 2.0, the biggest technical update to MIDI since 1983, so it was definitely time to rebrand the technology," MIDI COO Athan Billias told Dezeen. "At the same time, we took the opportunity to rebrand the MIDI organisation."
MIDI standards, which are the backbone of almost all electronic music, were first agreed in 1981 when makers of digital musical instruments got together to agree on protocols so their products could work together when linked via MIDI cables.
The standards are overseen by the non-profit MIDI Association.
The new MIDI identity applied to a connecting cable
"MIDI is the benchmark of composing music," said Suzuki, who is a sound artist as well as a designer. "It's also a huge achievement in music history."
"I grew up with MIDI and have used it at every stage of my career," Suzuki added. "Ninety-...