Skip to content
Fresh@incitrio.com
  • Brand Intelligence
  • Integrated Marketing Communications
  • 10x Sales Multiplier
  • BrandSpeak Blog
  • Brand Intelligence
  • Integrated Marketing Communications
  • 10x Sales Multiplier
  • BrandSpeak Blog
Let's Talk
  • Brand Intelligence
  • Integrated Marketing Communications
  • 10x Sales Multiplier
  • BrandSpeak Blog
Menu
  • Brand Intelligence
  • Integrated Marketing Communications
  • 10x Sales Multiplier
  • BrandSpeak Blog
Let's Talk
  • Graphic Design

Behind the Design of the 2014 Winter Olympics Logo

  • incitrio
  • February 6, 2014

Sochi_logo_for_the_2014_Winter_OlympicsThe Sochi Olympics are the top story this week. The athletes and Russia’s preparations may be the headlines, but the logo for this year’s Olympics is getting attention, too. Compared to previous Olympics logos, the Sochi 2014 logo is strikingly modern. It features futuristic type with letters and numbers that partially mirror each other. And, it’s the first Olypmics logo to feature the web address as part of the logo. And, it’s the first to say no to hand drawn elements. It’s the Olympics meets flat design.

The New Yorker wanted to find out. They recently featured an article detailing the design process for the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics logo. It turns out that the original proposed logo design was much more traditional and ornate.

The design team at the Interbrand Agency created the winning design for the logo. Initially, the logo was supposed to represent Russia’s traditional culture and artistic history, much like the 2008 Beijing Olympics logo. The lettering was going to incorporate floral design inspired by Khokhloma art. Or, the team knocked around the idea of incorporating Sochi’s resort culture via images of animals, beaches, etc.

But, the Olympics Organizing Committee didn’t want this traditional approach. Instead, they requested a modern, futuristic design. There was a period of frustration within the Olympic bureaucracy as everyone tried to find a compromise. There were a lot of cooks in the kitchen, so to speak: the Russian government, the International Olympic Committee, marketing consultants, athletes, and more. So many people gave input that it became difficult to trace the rationale for a logo comp.

Because there was such an incoherent design process, we’ll probably never know how the logo with the semi-mirroring effect came to fruition, or what it’s meant to represent. Perhaps the mirroring is meant to play on Sochi’s seaside resort town status. Or, maybe it represents Russia’s population, which is full of cultural, geographic, and political contrasts.

The December 2009 logo unveiling didn’t really shed any light on the process or the design thinking. The press release claimed that the logo “illustrates the connection between the past and the future, traditions and innovations.”

We could speculate forever about the origins of the logo, but perhaps it’s truly just a practical design choice. The minimalist design is very digital friendly, and still works well in print. The logo has to be used on so many applications (from athlete uniforms to skating rinks to websites and more) that it makes sense to create a logo that can bridge all of the mediums.

Latest Blog Post

The Secret to Unlocking Marketing ROI: A Step-by-Step Guide to Measure and Prove Your Digital Marketing Success

Digital marketing has become an essential strategy for businesses looking to expand their reach and drive revenue growth. However, measuring the return on investment (ROI)

Read More
incitrio March 30, 2023
Categories
  • Advertising
  • Big Data
  • Branding
  • Business
  • Business & Marketing Trends
  • Cause Marketing
  • Content Marketing
  • Digital Marketing
  • E-commerce
  • Email Marketing
  • Global Marketing
  • Graphic Design
  • Incitrio News San Diego
  • Innovation San Diego
  • Mobile
  • Online Marketing
  • Online Marketing 2.0 San Diego
  • Social Corporate Responsibility
  • Social Media
  • Tech News
  • Trade Shows
  • Uncategorized
  • User Experience
  • Website Design
Archives
PrevPreviousDesigner Creates “Honest Slogans” For Top Brands
NextUpgradia: The Inevitable Growth of Consumer CultureNext

More Blog Posts (FPO)

3 Key Tactics to Maximize Your Trade Show Success

incitrio March 17, 2023

Are you getting the most out of your Trade Show appearances? For any company, trade shows are an essential component of B2B marketing strategies. They

Read More »
Indata tablet responsive

INDATA Case Study

incitrio March 17, 2023

A leader in Intelligent Portfolio Management, Indata provides best-of-class software, technology, and services to a wide variety of clients including asset managers, registered investment advisors,

Read More »
Coke bottle with blurred text

Coke Advertisers Take “Share a Coke” Campaign One Step Further

incitrio March 10, 2023

Everybody remembers the “Share a Coke” campaign in which Coke advertisers placed a series of names and phrases on their bottles and cans. This campaign

Read More »
Incitrio provides stronger
Brand Intelligence for B2B

Free Strategy Consultation.
Meet with a specialist to talk through your specific challenges and discover if Incitrio is right for you.

Let’s Talk
Facebook-f Twitter Linkedin-in Youtube
  • Contact Us
  • 858.523.1822
  • fresh@incitrio.com
  • Contact Us
  • 858.523.1822
  • fresh@incitrio.com
  • Sitemap
  • Brand Intelligence
  • Integrated Marketing Communications
  • 10x Sales Multiplier
  • BrandSpeak Blog
  • Sitemap
  • Brand Intelligence
  • Integrated Marketing Communications
  • 10x Sales Multiplier
  • BrandSpeak Blog

Give us your toughest Marketing ROI challenges

Let's Talk

© Copyright 2022-2023 Incitrio | Brand Intelligence Agency All Rights Reserved

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Sitemap
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Sitemap