Olympic Pictograms
If I was hired to create pictograms for the 2032 Olympics...
The Challenge
I was challenged to create a set of four cohesive pictograms that represented various events in the Olympic Games and functioned in both positive and negative versions.
The Solution
I sought a unifying element in the four Olympic Games. Through sketching and research, I discovered that a cohesive theme emerged—each pictogram could be enveloped by a partial circle, creating a visual connection around their forms.
The most challenging aspect of the design process was determining the negative and positive spaces within the pictogram. I wanted to ensure a balance throughout the symbols.
BRAINSTORM
I sketched until I pinpointed strong concepts. During the sketching process, I discerned that certain Olympic sports I initially selected lacked cohesive elements. Given the freedom to choose, I decided on sports with shared design elements, where athletes could be visually encapsulated by partial curves, creating continuity.
FINAL
After refining my sketches through several iterations with tracing paper, I translated them into Illustrator. There, I refined lines, layers, and the interplay of negative and positive spaces.
