Tempest in Their Teapot?
The logo for the 2012 Olympic Games in London has been released and, boy, what a stir it has caused among the Brits. It seems as though some English feathers have been ruffled over this one...
The logo has been called "hideous" and even a waste of money. The organizing committee chief, Sebastian Coe, stated that "...it will define the venues we build and the Games we hold, and act as a reminder of our promise to use the Olympic spirit to inspire everyone and reach out to young people around the world." It seems hardly anyone in the tough crowd that is London agrees.
Comments from the local community include:
"This logo makes me embarrassed to be English."
"It looks like it could have been done by a six year old. I could do better with my eyes closed."
It also seems that 83% of visitors to the BBC New website gave it a wooden spoon - instead of a gold, silver, or bronze medal, if they had liked it.
(all of this info came from Agence France Presse, so don't think I made this up)
What do I think? Well, I think it's great when graphic design causes dialogue and discussion, first of all. I also think it's improper to call design "hideous" or a "waste of money" from those who may not be directly involved with the design or even qualified to make such comments. Can you imagine a design critique in school and your work was called "hideous"?
I personally like the logo - it is original and doesn't cull from the typical, tired five Olympic ring symbolism and doesn't use some cliche London imagery, like Big Ben. It's fresh, different, and causes discussion. What more could a designer want? Most importantly, however, what does the Queen think?
I read your thoughts with interest. As a Londoner I can confirm that a LOT of feathers are ruffled. All of the papers are slating it. The accompanying video presentation caused a number of people to have epileptic fits, which lead to it being withdrawn. That is worse than the logo. Over here there is a growing trend in youth culture toward neon/new rave and I think the agency's interpretation of 'appealing to the kids' is to try to predict the size of this trend and the reliving of the 1980s. However I feel quite dissapointed by this logo. For me it lacks depth or character or any meaning. It doesn't say anything about sport, achievement, showcasing exceptional sporting talent, a union of world wide sportsmanship. It feels like a wasted opportunity and that the agency have taken for granted that they are well known to produce a piece of work that fails to satisfy entirely. That said, it will look extremely eye catching and bold when it is massive. I don't think any one has asked the Queen - although I'd love to know what she says!
I hear you would like this animated one so here's the link.
http://img9.imagepile.net/img9/12224olympicgschpunken.gif
The Queen and Sebastian Coe are hardly people to be consulted about graphic design! The Queen is a monarch and does her job just fine - she rules the country. Seb Coe is a runner, and really should be doing just that. Furthermore, to say that 'a six year old could do that and so could I' is totally irrelevant. Not that I disagree, I just don't think it's a guideline by which design can be judged.
The design is totally void of any point, reference, focal point or meaning. Random shapes cut out of coloured paper stuck on a plain background do not denote anything to do with sports, achievement, human endevour or international unity. I am not a sports fan, have no interest in the Olympics and will certainly care less who wins what. But the thought that somebody (or a committee) will be taking design and art in general to hell in a handbasket (along with anyone who dare associate themselves with design) is very disturbing.
I know for a fact that I, as a designer, am going to be called to task over this.
Did someone simply run out of time and throw this together on the way to work?
It looks like an eighties tracksuit. I would have expected more, especially considering their enormous budget. They should have been able to come up with something that the majority of people were ok with.
This logo grew on me. I liked the group of logos in different colours. In an abstract way they look like small animals (monkeyish)or children waving if you see the O as a face and the 2 as an arm and the 12 as two legs. The number 2 looks like a teapot spout - very English. It has movement and it is friendly, fun, fresh and colourful. I like it more each time I see it. Enjoy it England! The logo and the Olympics.
Personally I think it looks like an eighties Kylie Minogue pop video, but she did move gracefully with the times.
First off, designers are not artists, we don't have the luxury of living in la la land. We provide a commercial product, to a commercial industry in order to sell commercial goods to the public. In this case the client was the public, with a select commitee making the decisions on our behalf along the way. There is a process which should have been followed with the client signing off the ideas as they are approved, this is the design process. I think the problems have started at the brief, and Seb Co and friends have just signed off each stage without a thought for the people whos money they are spending. Why was there no focus groups/ public consultation?
Should the agency get paid, yes. They have done the work and it has been signed off at every stage by the client as spot on. Should we blame the agency? No, but we should ask what the hell they were thinking, was it about getting the Olympics noticed? If yes then they have done the job well, just maybe not their reputation.
Lastly, do the public have the right to call the design rubbish? Yes, they are the client, they have paid for the right to be vocal about the design, good or bad. They also have the right to hold the person who made the decisions on our behalf accountable.
Step forward Seb.
bloody awful!
Mike, I already said in other blogs and forums all my arguments why this logo doesn't work. Now I'll be short and I'll say that this logo doesn't represents/transmits the specific values of the Olympics. On the other hand, it doesn't suggests that this event will take place in the U.K.
This has all the hallmarks of something that has bounced back and forth across far too many agency desks.
The bill of reportedly £800,000 would tend to support the idea that too much time has been put into this with consequent loss of focus and probably, in the end, loss of energy.
'Desked' and discussed to death would be my guess.
haha that logo made me laugh !
it looks like they spend alot of time with colour paper and a texter . haha
im quiet dispointed is lacks in every field imaginable !