MEET A DESIGNER: 
1
2
3
4
5
6OLYMPIC GAMES GRAPHICS
Young athletes from many nations gather every two years to compete in the Olympic games. Through sports, the games promote themes of excellence, fair play and world peace. Let’s take a look at the role graphic design plays in communicating the spirit of the games.
The symbol of the Olympic games is a flag of five colored rings, one representing each of the five continents of North America, South America, Europe, Asia and Africa.
A separate brand identity is created by each host city for a specific Olympic competition, such as the 2012 summer games in London or the 2016 games to be held in Rio de Janiero. This year, the official logo for the London Olympic and Paralympic games is an abstraction of the numbers in 2012 rendered in jagged-edge shapes. The colors and style of the brand identity is carried through on signage, tickets and more.
The games consist of 35 sports. Each sport has special icons that graphically represent specific events. These icons must be designed using simple shapes that can be easily identified.
Ever since the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, mascots have become an integral part of the Games. The mascots for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London are Mandeville and Wenlock.
Corporate sponsors of the Olympic games create graphics for television and print ads, limited edition posters and special product packaging to celebrate their presence at the games.
What do you think graphic designers were trying to communicate through the choices for the 2012 games?
SLIDESHOW IMAGES FROM IOC International Olympic Committee.
London Organizing Committee and © Coca-Cola
