The best ones can be drawn by a child. They’re recognizable from a distance. They can be flown back or front and look the same. They have a unique symbol, neither dated nor freighted with the regrets of history. They inspire citizens, soldiers and fashion designers.
Like these.
On first impression, I didn’t think much of the Vanoc palette – all tepid greens and blues, a tapestry of visual cliches.
I was wrong. I missed the point: it wasn’t meant to be assertive. In fact, its job was to be background, and to be everywhere.
This visual wrapping is especially good on television, where the cameras blurr the colours, and the tendrils complement the speed and angle of the athletes.
You’ve probably seen the VANOC volunteers, all dressed in that bright blue colour. You can see them a mile away and nobody else is wearing that colour, so that was a good choice. They do stand out, they don’t blend into the background, and you can find one easily if you need to.
As someone who has spent way too much time in front of a television toggling between CTV, NBC and TSN, the blue and green colours are amazingly refreshing – they look great and cleanse the visual palate like a crisp BC riesling!
The wrappings are especially good at the skating venues. It looks like skaters are passing through a stylized Vancouver. Great work whoever designed it.
Interesting to see the Swiss flag rendered in the standard dimensions of a Canadian flag. The real Swiss flag is square.