For my second project in Design History, our group created a class presentation on the assigned topic “Design Systems of the Olympic Games.” We researched key elements like logos, typography, colour schemes, and pictograms, and each member was responsible for a specific section of the slides. Our parts were timed to fit a recorded presentation, ensuring smooth flow and equal contribution. This project was a great opportunity to practice teamwork and time management while exploring how large scale design systems are created and applied. It also helped me understand the importance of collaboration in presenting complex topics clearly and effectively.
Our task for this project was to unveil and research our given topic, Design Systems of the Olympic Games, and then decide which specific areas each of us wanted to focus on. Working as a group, we divided the research so each member could look in-depth at a different Olympic Games, exploring the history, specific design features, colour choices, and overall design history of the official posters for their assigned event.
This structure of work allowed each of us to become an expert in one Olympic Games while contributing to a richer overall understanding of the design systems used throughout Olympic history.
The Olympic Games represent one of the most iconic and widely recognised global events, bringing together nations and athletes in a celebration of sport, culture, and unity. Beyond the competition itself, the Games have developed a rich visual identity that reflects the host country’s culture, values, and era. Our project presentation focuses on exploring the design systems behind the Olympic Games, specifically looking at how each host city has crafted a unique yet cohesive visual language that supports the event’s branding, communication, and legacy. The design system of the Olympics encompasses a variety of visual elements including logos, typography, colour palettes, pictograms, posters, and overall graphic standards. These elements are carefully crafted to ensure instant recognition and to convey the spirit of the Games as well as the cultural identity of the host nation. Over time, these design systems have evolved from simple symbols to complex, multi layered visual identities that function across multiple platforms, from print and digital media to signage and merchandise. Our approach to this topic involves a collaborative research process, where each member of our group has been assigned a different Olympic Games to study in depth. By focusing on the Rio 2016, Swiss Games, Paris 2024, and Tokyo 1964 Olympics, we cover a broad timeline and a diverse range of cultural contexts, design philosophies, and technological advancements. Each of us has investigated the history of the Games’ visual identity, the specific design features of their official posters, the colour choices, and the overall impact these design systems have had on both the Olympics and the wider field of graphic design.
The Olympic Games are much more than a global sporting event, they are a sentimental and cultural milestone that captures the spirit, history, and identity of each host nation and era. This emotional significance is deeply reflected in their design history, where every logo, poster, and visual element carries meaning beyond just aesthetics. The design systems developed for the Olympics act as visual storytellers, communicating values like unity, competition, peace, and cultural pride to a worldwide audience. Studying the Olympic Games’ design history helps us understand how design systems function as powerful tools for cultural expression and communication. Each host country uses the Games’ branding to showcase its unique heritage and contemporary identity, while also aligning with the universal Olympic ideals. This creates a fascinating dialogue between tradition and modernity, local identity and global recognition. This project therefore offers us a unique opportunity to study how design systems adapt to reflect changing cultural contexts, technological advances, and audience expectations. It shows us how designers balance respect for historical legacy with innovation, creating identities that resonate both locally and internationally. Ultimately, understanding the Olympic Games’ design history deepens our appreciation for how visual language shapes perception, conveys meaning, and builds emotional connections and key lessons that are essential for anyone studying design systems in any context.
My area of focus in the presentation is the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, which serves as an excellent and vibrant example of modern Olympic design. Choosing Rio allows me to explore how a host city’s unique culture and environment can be powerfully communicated through visual identity, making it a dynamic and engaging case study within our project. Rio’s design system not only reflects the energy and spirit of Brazil but also demonstrates how contemporary branding techniques can create a memorable and inclusive global image. Colour is one of the most outstanding features of Rio’s design. The palette uses bright, warm, and saturated hues, primarily greens, yellows, blues, and oranges, that evoke Brazil’s natural landscapes like the Amazon rainforest, beaches, and sunny skies. These colours do more than decorate; they embody the vibrancy and warmth of Brazilian culture, festivals like Carnival, and the sense of joy and celebration that surround the Games. The use of these lively colours helps to create an inviting and energetic atmosphere, appealing to a global audience while staying rooted in local identity. When it comes to typography, Rio 2016 employs clean, modern sans-serif fonts that complement the fluidity and organic shapes present in the logo and graphics. The typography is designed to be approachable and legible across various platforms, from large-scale posters to digital screens, ensuring clarity without losing personality. This balance between simplicity and character helps maintain a fresh, contemporary feel that supports the dynamic energy conveyed by other design elements. The imagery and poster designs for the Rio Olympics are rich with symbolism and movement. Inspired by the natural curves of the human body, the fluid motion of samba dancers, and organic shapes found in Brazil’s environment, the design creates a sense of rhythm, harmony, and connection. These flowing forms are used strategically to evoke feelings of unity, motion, and celebration, key themes of the Olympics. The posters combine these elements in vibrant, balanced compositions that capture both the athletic spirit and cultural pride of the host city, making them visually captivating and meaningful. Overall, focusing on the Rio 2016 Olympic Games is a strong choice for our presentation because it highlights how design systems can go beyond mere branding to become powerful expressions of cultural identity and emotion. Its outgoing and colourful style provides a striking contrast to the more restrained or minimalist approaches of other Olympic Games, adding depth and variety to our group’s exploration of how Olympic design has evolved across different countries and time periods.