Olympic Poster Design over the last 112 years
As the Summer Olympics draws near every aspect of popular culture tends to involve itself in it. The design world especially plays an important part in inspiring people to get excited about the games. Recently there was a book released called "A Century of Olympic Posters" (which was mentioned in Fabiano's Best of the Week #18 post back in June). I've actually never seen the book, but I found that I didn't actually need it to see all the posters. Wikipedia has them all easily accessible.
Looking through these posters is great because it's like looking at a timeline of the changes and innovations in Graphic Design.
Some of my favorites are:
1912 - I love the 1912 one because it has a sort of Art Nouveau look to it, which is pretty appropriate for the time.
1924 - This poster almost seems like a German or Soviet propaganda poster.
1956 - Here we see a departure from depicting the usual roman statuesque male form that was part of the posters since 1908. In fact in completely removes any natural form.
1968 - I'm totally digging this Mexico '68 poster.
1988 - this one is in almost classic 1980's style. It looks like they actually used early computer graphics to make this.
source: haha.nu
About author
Hi readers!
I'm a student of Graphic Design in New York City and I live in Brooklyn. NY is a hub for design and my posts will try to focus on, but will not be limited to, design related things happening in NY, such as museum exhibits, architecture, events, local artist interviews, galleries, etc. I'm very much into technology and art and how they intersect to make multimedia art installations.
Hope you enjoy my posts!
1924
1928
1936
1956
1960
1976
1980
1992
1996
In my opinion the best are:
1904
1912
1936
1956
1964
1976
1980
2004
They all represent very well the graphic style of their era and convey the message. I'm not a great fan of the 1968 and the 1988 designs, although they certainly represent their era. I also think that all the London-posters are rather poor, not just the 2012 one.
This is an awesome post. why do the quality of designs slowly degenerate after the 80s?
Mexico 68 obviously kills all hands down theres no real competition except for montreal coz canada rocks and its so simple yet wicked.
Wow, nice article! Btw... The last one is fugly.
I don't even understand why london gets it again? Oh my gosh... London graphic designers must be pretty embarrassed because the design is pure crap lol....
Best design: Atlanta
Loving 1928 and 1980... But what the crap is up with London 2012? Whoever designed that hates graphic design!
You forgot Calgary 1988!
http://www.vancouver2010.com/images/misc/legacies_calgary_poster.jpg
intresting.
I have to agree Isaac. I thought they change it. Didn't know that they was still using this design. It's really ugly reminds move of tv bumbers from the early 1990's when they was trying to be "hip" with the kids. I like the 1936, 1988, and 1996
Ugh, the only one that is decent is Barcelona, Atlanta and Athens.
great post!, i love it, thanks for sharing,.
Look this postrs too http://game2014.ru/category/plakat/
i definitely like the 1936 one the best, even if it is nazi propaganda :P
also the mexico 68 one is pretty great... except it just reminds me of the student massacre (not that i was alive or in mexico during that time though, haha). if youre interested in that era though, you might be interested to know (or might know already) that alfonso cuaron is directing a new movie "Mexico 68" that is slated to come out next year. he's my favorite director so im really excited for that movie!!
After 1988, the only good one is 1996. Everything after that makes me want to dig my eyeballs out with a spoon.
I was in Sydney for the 2000 Olympics and it was amazing. I actually didn't get to go to game because I was working and I was poor but the city was alive with some many concerts and people. They had huge screens out in parks around the city where you could go watch. I had the best time. I bet London will be a lot of fun.
So I did a quick google search on the London 2012 logo. I found this article:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/olympics_2012/6718243.stm
It apparently is supposed to be the numbers 2012. I never actually noticed that before but I see it now. It's still horrible.
When the London 2012 logo was released I thought it was an April fools' joke.
I honestly cannot believe how awful that thing is. Won't stop me going to them though (might as well get my money's worth - it's costing the taxpayer way to much, we should have let France host it - it's only a couple of hours on the Eurostar).
Isaac
I dig 1912 the billowing flags are graphic design at its best. 1936 is cool, but it IS a Nazi propaganda poster.
The last twenty years seem locked in the same graphic style. I wouldn't be surprised if the were designed by a committee.
Moscow is my favorite.
Tokyo 64... definitely!
No, you're right, the 1980 Moscow one if pretty phallic.
what the hell is up with the 2012 logo. Can somebody forward me a link that explains their reasoning for it?
everytime i see the london 2012 logo i cant help but see the image of Lisa Simpson giving a blowjob.
I really like the Montreal one... Maybe my mind is in the gutter, but the Moscow one looks very... phallic.
1936 Berlin is the best, 2012 London is the worst.
London for three times? :S
And There are great designers in England!! What happen with that poster?!
They stole us! It had to be in Madrid. ---> Pls Pls Im just jokking, ok?
I dont mind the place I love OG!!!
Great work! all the posters have its own significance but the poster that I like the most is 1900 PARIS.
Best one imho: Montreal 1967
Love it!
(1996 ain't that bad either, but everything else after 1980 sucks like hell and 2012 tops it all.)
I love the simplicity of Tokyo '64 :)
The british : always doing the opposite of the others... and why do they choosed to have no colors ? meaning the official ones.
ps : see no hate in here please.
Wow - the London-one is just ugly. ^^
But I have to disagree with the autor - I don't think that the Mexican one's a good one since it's getting pretty unclear.
I dig also the older ones like 1896, 192 but also 1988 or 2004.
And London rescues itself a little with the 1948 one. Not bad. ;)
Very interesting... My Faves: 1920, 1936, 1972 and 1980 - This one wouldn't look out of place in 1920s berlin, very Bauhaus, just goes to show how ahead of their time they were! I also agree with you guys, 1988 and onwards - terrible, the 2012 London one kinda makes me feel ashamed of being british. :S
man, like Adrian said it's like watching a catastrophe in slow motion!
up to moscow 1980 there are amazing works.
posters after 1980 range from mediocre (barcelona 1992 and beijing 2008 aren't that bad) to WTF-level ugliness (really, what they had in mind designing the london 2012 logo??? and the sydney 2000 looks like it's been designed by someone's 8 years old nephew).
M
lol
after 1988 they just get worse and worse.
Wow, it's like watching a huge train wreck in slow motion.
Post new comment