The Olympic winter games are over for this time. It was the same old story as the previous winter olympics. Norway stacked up on medals (23 total) and Great Britain slid into a single gold medal. But one thing had changed from the previous olympics. The generic use of “toilet men” illustrations for the dicipline symbols were replaced by more detailed vector illustrations. I dont know if I liked it that much, as I always liked those simple toilet men. (Some more than others of course).

Designer Steven Heller traced the evolution of the pictograms and shares his view on the symbols.

Check it out here.

And what do we really think of the new pictograms for the London 2012 Olympics? These neon coloured, hardlined symbols that will bombard us in a couple of years. The silhouette versions seems like a decent attempt. There is a bit more identity in the second set where I think the iconic tube map has been an obvious inspiration. But where it it ads dynamics and identity it also ads a chaotic side to the symbols. Maybe to much? But by the looks of it, they are ment to be used for large scale stuff which seems to work pretty well. (see below)

Anyways, It will be interesting to see how the whole identity will look in the end. And I have to say the logo has grown on me, not saying I love it, just saying I like it.

- — -
BEIJING 2008

VANCOUVER 2010

LONDON 2012

— - -