Best use of graphic design in 2012 – The London Olympics

Without question, one of the best uses of  both stunning and practical graphic design in 2012, is the amazing material and designwork done in support of the 2012 London Olympic Games.

From the official Team GB logo and graphics emblazoned on the the athletes’ outfits, through to the use of the giant official Olympic rings hanging on London’s Tower Bridge and the enormous amount of posters and graphics used to direct the millions of visitors to the Games around the City.

The amount of graphic design has, in our opinion, never been so widely-used to such a high level of quality and practicality in any other public event.

One of the major users of good graphic design being used to such a great level is TfL, Transport for London. From the hundreds of posters, direction signs, floor graphics and awareness campaigns, through to the special Tube maps designed to follow the iconic London Underground map design and include all the event locations and athletes’ names. Originally designed by Harry Beck, back in the 1920s, the design of the London Underground Tube map has been the source of aspiration and inspiration to graphic designers the world over, it was vital that alterations to it were both inkeeping and enhancing. The design team at TfL achieved this with splendor.

The mark of good graphic design is measured by a few simple principles – they are, whether is gives the user or viewer the right instruction they need as intended by the person wishing to impart a message whilst making the viewer feel attraction and intrigue towards the design and how it makes them feel.

In our opinion, a poster designed by the TfL team for use during and post-Olympics achieved these principles with brilliance, whilst adhering to the iconic design principles of the London Underground’s existing identity, is one of the single, most beautiful pieces of graphic design in the past year.

So, to end 2012, we would like to congratulate all those lucky enough to have been involved with producing design work for the 2012 London Olympic Games, whether it was for the Official sites or for TfL. We would also like to acknowledge the team of people who had the foresight, vision and belief in the use and practical abilities of graphic design in this global event.

The British are envied for their design skills all over the world, both creative and technology-based – let’s make sure that 2013 continues and develops that trend.