blog.

Otl Aicher (May 13, 1922 – September 1, 1991) was one of the leading German graphic designers of the 20th century.

Whenever I design anything that has the slightest bit to do with sports or sporting event categories, symbols or diagrams, I always go through the stunning and groundbreaking graphic materials for the 1972 Munich Olympics.

Aicher was the lead designer for the 1972 Munich Olympics. He created, using a strict orthogonal and diagonal square grid, a new set of pictograms that paved the way for the ubiquitous stick figures currently used in public signs (Otl Aicher on Wikipedia). He also created the first official Olympic Mascot, a striped dachshund named Waldi.

Waldi Mascot Keyring.

Hockey Identity Badge.

Yachting poster.

Results Book.

Ceramic Vases.

Athlete Badge.

Unfortunately the 1972 Olympics will always be associated with the tragic terrorist attacks on Israeli athletes, but hopefully the designs of Otl Aicher and his team will be remembered for centuries to come.

Further links:

Online resource for the Munich Olympics, including original items for sale

Otl Aicher - 1972 Munich Olympics

Linotype - Article on Otl Aicher