The bird featured on the Lufthansa logo is a crane, specifically a stylized crane in flight. Originally designed in 1918 by architect and graphic artist Otto Firle for the airline's predecessor, Deutsche Luft-Reederei (DLR), the crane has become one of the most recognizable and enduring trademarks in the history of aviation. The crane was chosen for its association with long-distance flight, grace, and technical precision, qualities that the airline sought to embody. Over the decades, the logo has undergone several refinements—most notably in the 1960s by designer Otl Aicher, who placed the crane inside a circle and standardized the iconic blue and yellow color palette. In 2018, Lufthansa refreshed its corporate identity by shifting to a "Blue" world, featuring a slimmer, more modern white crane on a deep blue background. Despite these aesthetic updates, the crane remains the central symbol of the brand's heritage, representing reliability, German craftsmanship, and the spirit of exploration.