Olympic Logo Image
Designed by Pierre de Coubertin, 1913
The logo consists of a grouping of five interlaced rings, each a different solid colour. The colours include all the Primary Colours as well as the addition of Black and Yellow. Many people may wonder what possessed the designer to choose these colours? Some may think that it's for the contrast to make the logo stand out. This certainly does happen, however the colours were chosen to represent every nation around the world. At least one colour from the Olympic logo appears on every national flag.
There is also a reason behind the number of rings; they are symbolic as they represent the five continents of the world. the ring motif could quite possible be linked to the symbolism of a circle; wholeness, unity, inclusion, etc. It may also link back to the shape of the medals that are awarded to the winners, the wreaths from the ancient greek origins, or possibly even the shape of the globe.
The repetition of the ring shape within the logo design creates a rhythm that pulsates your eye through the design from beginning to end. The use of colour creates a rhythmic loop that pulls your eye around the design, beginning at the lightest of the rings (yellow), then moving anti-clockwise around the design. The proximity of the rings indicates the close relationship between them. The fact that they interlock connects each continent together and represents the power the Olympic Games has to bring together the nations of the world.
When you first look at the Olympic logo and you don't know the reasons behind the design choices, the meaning may appear unclear, however when it's put into perspective and analysed, the logo is very successful at representing all nations and serving its purpose as a national emblem.
1964 Olympic Games, Tokyo
The Rising Sun and the Olympic Emblem
Designed by Yusaku Kamekura, 1961
The first of four campaign posters for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics was very minimalistic in the design approach. Only the elements shape, letterform and colour was utilised. The simplistic approach resulted in a very clean-cut design that successfully integrated the Japanese culture and the Olympic Games without the need for excessive design. The design seamlessly merges European type and the Japanese motif of the Rising Sun which also appears on Japan's national flag. The Rising Sun and the Olympic logo work well together as they both embrace the simplistic form of the circle. The gold colour is associated with royalty and the colour of the heavens and is used to decorate Buddha statues and temples in Japan, and red of the Rising Sun represents life and vitality and the energy of the sun 'radiating its vitalizing life-force into human beings.'
The centred layout as well as the identical width of each element of the design creates a solid balanced design. The proximity of the Rising Sun and the Olympic logo imply the close relationship between both symbols. The Rising Sun symbolises brightness, sincerity and warmth, and almost touches the Olympic rings. This could represent the feelings that Japan extends to the nations that it will be hosting (represented by the Olympic logo). The welcoming feeling of the poster was an integral feature of the design as the world's eyes were upon Japan after the WWII defeat. The design draws upon Modernists influences from Europe. Bauhaus and Constructivism both had a profound influence over Yusaku Kamekura.
The application of the logo in relation to the size, position and relationship between other elements is exemplary, however the colour change from the original five colours to the uniform gold loses some of the symbolism from the original logo. The connection between the colours and the national flags around the world is lost in translation, however the logo had already been used for a period exceeding 50 years so the shape alone is symbolic enough of the Olympic Games.
Bibliography:
- Notes and observation from the Melbourne Sports Museum
- http://www.whats-your-sign.com/circle-symbol-meaning.html
- http://olympic-museum.de/poster/poster1964.htm
- http://yusakukamekura.blogspot.com.au/
- http://www.worldflags101.com/j/japan-flag.aspx
- http://www.three-musketeers.net/mike/colors.html#brown
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