I always liked the 2012 Olympics brand by Wolff Olins. Brands are made for the future, and designing them is more of a matter of insight or dictating the taste than pleasing current taste. Wolff Olins also did the Athens 2004 brand, and it is interesting to see the differences between their Athens and London work. Athens is conservative and safe, London is energetic and controversial. Both are great work.

Finally an important element of the branding for Olympics - pictograms are released.

Some One did the design and it is a super nice job.

Pictograms contain a lot of info, work nice bug and small, and are emotional. I like them as an athlete and as a designer… and someone who might be lost in some stadium and need directions.

The triathlon pictogram, which was presented in London by Alistair Brownlee, has a bit of water and a guy running and pushing the bike. It is all there and its clear. Triathlon pictogram must be one of the hardest to make.

I quite like the modern pentathlon one as well - it is like a story.

Also it is cool that it seems that Some One actually studied the detailed movement of the athletes. While previous pictograms are mostly abstract presentations which redefine human motion and physical laws, the new pictograms are very close to how a photo of an athlete should look like. I like when sports movement is presented well. Some One took time to understand these sports in detail?

Very interesting following the buildup towards London Olympics online. This is really exciting because never before did Olympics have such online support and interest. I would like to see the Olympic site to be a community blog for all people involved, 1000s of blogs, a huge mess which somehow generates this amazing event.

Good work!

Alistair is a cool guy, but I think Will would have been more effective in presenting the new triathlon pictogram, especially if he did it in the company of his new lizard. This is my proposal for the promotion of Olympic triathlon pictogram.

More on Olympic pictograms on 2012 blog.

I also wrote a quick impulsive study.

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categories: ITU, Will Clarke, branding, design

tags: 2004, 2004 Olympics, 2012, 2012 Olympics, Alistair Brownlee, Athens, branding, design, Greece, London, London Olympic games, pictograms, Some One, UK, Will Clarke, Wolff Olins

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