GRAPHIC DESIGN AT ITS BEST
20.08.08
The Olympic rings are one of the most easily and universally recognisable pieces of graphic design. But are they one of the best pieces of graphic design ever?
One of the most important things with graphic design is longevity. Yes your design may be relevant and look good today but will it be relevant and aesthetically pleasing in the future?
Remarkably the design for the rings came about in 1913, designed by Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympic games. The design is even more astounding when you take the time to investigate other graphic design pieces from the same period which can best be described as awkward.
Another key objective with graphic design is simplicity. Undoubtedly the Olympic rings are simplicity personified. Five interlocking rings of different colours on a white background and that's that!
Perhaps most importantly graphic design is about conveying a message. Here is where the rings slightly and only slightly let themselves down. Many say the rings represent the '5' continents. However many including us here at Design Conditioner would agree that there are 7 continents, these being Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe, and Oceania. The Olympic Charter states that the symbol does indeed represent the '5' continents, this sees the Americas viewed as a single continent and Antartica excluded.
It must be noted that this explanation of the rings was never uttered by the designer whom it is believed drew inspiration from an artifact from ancient Greece. It must also be noted that there is no association between any one continent and any one ring.
What is true however is that every single flag in the world contains at least one of the colours from the Olympic flag, these being blue, black, red, yellow, green and white (the colour on which the Olympic flag is set).
All in all the Olympic rings are a truly magnificent piece of graphic design and due to their longevity, simplicity and meaning are arguably one of the best pieces of graphic design ever.
