Olympic Branding
2024
Adobe InDesign
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Illustrator
This is a class project I developed while living in Colorado Springs. I realized that the small city has not yet hosted the Olympics. I studied this city's culture and art scene while developing an Olympic brand identity. Although I researched necessary qualifications for hosting and learned that this city is not yet fully equipped, I reasoned that there is still hope and merit for the Olympic City to host the world Olympics someday!
Conceptual Sketches:
For this Olympic brand, I sketched icons that resemble Colorado Springs' deep connection to nature. These illustrations include Garden of the Gods natural rock formation, Pikes Peak mountain (home to winter recreational sports), Colorado's state bird (lark bunting), the American grey wolf (which Colorado has protected from continued endangerment), and a hot air balloon (Labor Day Hot Air Balloon Festival). While Pikes Peak stood as a strong contender, I ultimately chose Garden of the Gods for being such an iconic and unique tourist attraction central to Colorado Springs.
For this Olympic brand, I sketched icons that resemble Colorado Springs' deep connection to nature. These illustrations include Garden of the Gods natural rock formation, Pikes Peak mountain (home to winter recreational sports), Colorado's state bird (lark bunting), the American grey wolf (which Colorado has protected from continued endangerment), and a hot air balloon (Labor Day Hot Air Balloon Festival). While Pikes Peak stood as a strong contender, I ultimately chose Garden of the Gods for being such an iconic and unique tourist attraction central to Colorado Springs.
Pictogram Sketches:
Although it sits a mile above sea level, Colorado Springs is an unusually small city with an ordinance to keep towering buildings out. This is to preserve the natural and breathtaking view of its neighbors, Pikes Peak and the Rocky Mountains.
Although it sits a mile above sea level, Colorado Springs is an unusually small city with an ordinance to keep towering buildings out. This is to preserve the natural and breathtaking view of its neighbors, Pikes Peak and the Rocky Mountains.
In my experience living in this city, I found many people are friendly and have fun playing outside. Winter sports are second-nature to the culture of Colorado Springs. I marveled at the sight of families bobsledding in the parks during winter. And so, I wanted my pictograms to represent the the fun-loving spirit of Colorado Springs. The large heads add a playful, childlike quality.
Typographic Program:
I chose Gill Sans for its humanist style and Futura for its readability. A humanist font face and sans serif, Gill Sans lends itself to the blending of Colorado Springs' rich history embedded in modern culture.
I chose Gill Sans for its humanist style and Futura for its readability. A humanist font face and sans serif, Gill Sans lends itself to the blending of Colorado Springs' rich history embedded in modern culture.
I recognized similar fonts while strolling through Old Colorado City, touring the Pioneer Museum, and dining at the historic Fargo's Pizza Co., which is chock-full of early 19th-Century memorabilia.
Logo Development:
With the Olympic logo, I sketched a segment of Garden of the Gods that would fit into a simplified icon while remaining recognizable to people purchasing Olympic tickets. It began as a landscape illustration before I simplified the design. I also narrowed down my color palette to two earthy colors: terracotta and burnt sienna. This invites the natural color and texture of Garden of the Gods into the brand identity.
With the Olympic logo, I sketched a segment of Garden of the Gods that would fit into a simplified icon while remaining recognizable to people purchasing Olympic tickets. It began as a landscape illustration before I simplified the design. I also narrowed down my color palette to two earthy colors: terracotta and burnt sienna. This invites the natural color and texture of Garden of the Gods into the brand identity.
Pictograms Final Design:
To further stylize the pictograms for this brand, I pulled my logo colors into a sunrise-inspired gradient. This adds vibrance and movement to the figures, which will make them really pop against a snowy white background.
To further stylize the pictograms for this brand, I pulled my logo colors into a sunrise-inspired gradient. This adds vibrance and movement to the figures, which will make them really pop against a snowy white background.
Olympic Medals:
The gold medal design depicts Pikes Peak, a symbol of unparalleled excellence. The silver medal design depicts the grey wolf, a fierce competitor. Lastly, the bronze medal depicts the beloved lark bunting, which represents the cheerful and optimistic spirit of Colorado.
The gold medal design depicts Pikes Peak, a symbol of unparalleled excellence. The silver medal design depicts the grey wolf, a fierce competitor. Lastly, the bronze medal depicts the beloved lark bunting, which represents the cheerful and optimistic spirit of Colorado.
Tickets:
A previous version of my logo design incorporated the sunrise gradient and a heavy linear drawing. Since transforming the logo to a cleaner, minimal design, I used softer, cooler earthy colors to tie in the notion of a natural landscape. The organic lines resemble snowy peaks of the Rocky Mountains.
A previous version of my logo design incorporated the sunrise gradient and a heavy linear drawing. Since transforming the logo to a cleaner, minimal design, I used softer, cooler earthy colors to tie in the notion of a natural landscape. The organic lines resemble snowy peaks of the Rocky Mountains.
Olympic Apparel:
What would a day at the Olympics be without cozy apparel to keep spectators comfy and warm? It can get below freezing up on the mountain, which calls for high quality gloves, beanies, and sweaters. Muted, natural tones compliment the vibrant logo.
What would a day at the Olympics be without cozy apparel to keep spectators comfy and warm? It can get below freezing up on the mountain, which calls for high quality gloves, beanies, and sweaters. Muted, natural tones compliment the vibrant logo.
Environmental Banners:
For the Olympic banners, I took some of my nature sketches and created polygonal art, inspired by a highway mural in town, depicting residents in this polygonal style. I included imagery of the grey wolf and blue spruce, a prominent conifer tree native to Colorado. The wolf is a beloved Colorado dweller, revered for its tenacity and independent spirit.
For the Olympic banners, I took some of my nature sketches and created polygonal art, inspired by a highway mural in town, depicting residents in this polygonal style. I included imagery of the grey wolf and blue spruce, a prominent conifer tree native to Colorado. The wolf is a beloved Colorado dweller, revered for its tenacity and independent spirit.