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At first, I resisted writing about the logo for the winter Olympics in Vancouver, but Friend of IBD Amy Lethbridge called us out on Facebook, so it had to be done. Amy posted a link to an NPR story called Vancouver Olympic Logo: A Smiling Marker Of Death? and commented, “Come on Paul, Shea, I need to know what you think!” It got me to thinking about some of the design-related elements I’ve been noticing while watching the games.
1. I like the logo.
The logo, by the Vancouver firm Rivera Design Group, was one of 16,000 entries in a design contest. It features a human form called Ilaanaq (the Inuit word for friend), constructed in an Inuit tradition called inukshuk, the act of balancing stacked rocks. You can see a full description of the design decisions that went into the logo on GameBids.com.
The NPR story makes the point, however, that in the tradition of inukshuk, the Inuit people used these rock formations to identify good hunting grounds, and typically did not create human forms out of them. In fact, the article quotes Inuit inukshuk expert Peter Irniq as saying that you wouldn’t typically see these formations as human, and if you do, “It’s a symbol of the fact that someone may have, um, committed suicide or someone may have murdered somebody at that spot.”
But I think that using the inukshuk style is an appropriate homage to the Inuit culture without intending to be a dissertation on the meanings behind the practice. If the folks at the Rivera Design Group had made the logo some amorphous stack of stones rather than in the shape of a person, it wouldn’t have worked as a logo, and some other design firm would have gotten the award of $25,000 and two tickets to the opening reception.
As I said to Amy, I realize that I’m violating the official graphic designer credo by liking something that was created for distribution on a mass scale. We’re required by law to say something like, “Ack, it’s so corporate,” or, simply, “What were they thinking?” But I do like the logo. I find it engaging and unique.
NOTE: Added February 25, 2010: In comment #8 on this post, Canadian Friend of IBD Joan writes that there is a specific inukshuk that represents a human form found on English Bay in Vancouver (see the photo by Peter Graham above). Seems that someone should alert NPR to this.
2. I have curling fever.
Every Olympics, it seems that there’s some fashion item that becomes all the rage. This year, I thought it was going to be the moose-themed USA knit caps (or “tuques,” for our neighbors to the north) featured during the opening ceremony. Friend of IBD Jeff Miller pointed out that these hats sold out quickly and were going for upwards of $400 on eBay.
Then, bless their hearts, along came the Norwegian curling team. I am drawn to the sport of curling in general because it seems like the only winter Olympics sport not based on a dare, and because the scoring system reminds me of bocce ball, which reminds me of my annual trip to the New Jersey shore, which reminds me of boardwalk food, which reminds me of cheesesteaks and ice cream. And I like cheesesteaks and ice cream.
I particularly like that the Norwegian curling team, which like the American team is not very good, chose to recognize the non-athletic nature of this sport by wearing trousers that look like they were designed by someone who either golfs too much or has a gambling problem. Or both.
3. What is the Vancouver typeface?
I loved watching that one stretch on the luge when the contestants went by the giant, ice-encased type “Vancouver 2010.” I’m sure everyone watching the Olympics was thinking what I was thinking: I wonder what that typeface is. According to the fine people at FontShop, it’s called Charlotte Sans Std. It was designed by Michael Gills and released by the foundry International Typeface Corporation (ITC) in 1992.
Feel better? I know I do.
Note: The photo of the Norwegian curling team is by Jeff Franko/Gannett and was found on USA Today’s website. The photo of German luger Felix Loch was found on the website www.metro.co.uk.
Tuque on Dude … I like the logo too, and I love the tuques. Cannot wait to get my hands on one. As for the pants, I will pass on having a pair of those in my wardrobe, but Shea and you have my blessings in adding a pair to yours.
As for curling … I love that too. I cannot get enough. Though I think Pam has had enough of me watching. I hope they add a coed version in future Olympic games, so that our NAI S.P.O.R.T.S. Team has a shot at the gold. Rock on curlers!
My wife thinks the graphic designs on the fencing (fabric?) around the events is outstanding this year.
As of this morning, the Facebook page, “The Norwegian Olympic Curling Team’s Pants” has over 300K fans.
As someone who has blown off a Tim Merriman workshop in order to go curling (sorry Tim!), and the future founder of the South African curling team, I gotta say that anything that brings attention to curling is OK by me. Which is why I think it’s marketing GOLD that the USA Curling team is sponsored by a condom manufacturer and a brand of whiskey. Cuz if you’ve got 46 pound stones, condoms, and booze, you’ve got a party!
But I want your thoughts on the pants that the Azerbaijanis wore for the opening ceremony. The Norwegians are tame by comparison.
Curling Rocks! I absolutely love the green blue color pallete and design for all the background stuff and the number vests. However, I’m really annoyed that I can’t tell who anybody is by their uniforms anymore. Sometimes we wear dark blue pants, sometimes stars, sometimes gold with flames, etc. Does that bother anyone else or am I getting to be an old fogey?
Dude, having just returned from a visit to Vancouver, I can tell you the hot fashion item is the red mittens. Even Oprah got into the act. The mittens themselves are lovely: fleece-lined on the inside and traditional knit on the outside, with the Olympic rings on the back and the maple leaf on the palm.
I was impressed at how thorough the design team had been at covering everything from snow fence to concrete bollards with the official colours and graphics. The whole city feels like one giant themed attraction. At night they have huge search lights set up. (Which, light pollution, anyone? But shhh. It’s cool.) It wasn’t until the weather turned more typically overcast that we saw how the lights were intended to reflect on the cloud cover and evoke the Northern Lights. Very nifty.
I think Germany wins for ugliest uniform with those pink and blue vests. Ugh.
Holy smokes. Now I need those mittens, too.
Oh yeah, the mittens are awesome.
Also, I forgot to mention that there is a giant inukshuk in a park overlooking False Creek, which is the body of water where you’ll find the two main stadiums and the Athlete’s village. I think the logo is referring to that local landmark, as well as the things the statue itself represents. The (Eh-hem – Look! Relevance!) interpretive/information sign at the base of the sculpture reads:
Ancient symbols of Inuit culture traditionally used as landmarks and navigation aids, this grey granite statue representing a human form with outstretched arms is a well-known symbol in Canada of northern hospitality and friendship.
Constructed originally by Alvin Kanak of Rankin Inlet, this monument was commissioned by the Government of the Northwest Territories for its pavilion at Expo 86, and given to the City of Vancouver.
Permanent location of the Inukshuk on this site was sponsored as a gift to the city in 1987 by Coast Hotels through the Vancouver Legacies Programs.
- Vancouver Board of parks and Recreation
So it’s a cool logo because it has symbolic value on several levels, including sense of place, winter/the North, Vancouver history, Indigenous peoples, and waymarking. And it’s easy to reproduce!
Wow, Joan, that is a great addition to this conversation. I’ve added a photo to the post. Thanks!
Paul: If I am suddenly replaced on IBD by Joan, I totally understand.