Munich Olympics 1972: Hurdling. [Poster]
Munich: [Otl Aicher/German National Olympic Committee], 1972. Large offset color-printed poster (measures 33" x 23.25").
Original poster designed by Otto "Otl" Aicher for the hurdling event at the 1972 Münich Olympics. One of the most influential German designers of the 20th century, Aicher made numerous enduring contributions to the field, including modernizing brands such as Braun and Lufthansa, co-founding the Bauhaus-inspired Ulm College of Design, and inventing his own color palettes (leading to his title as "the master of color"). In 1965, he was tapped to form a team of designers, illustrators, and technical staff to devise the visual design for the Munich games, with the aim of expunging the image of the 1936 Berlin Olympics, often called the "Nazi games," as the event was held under Hitler’s dictatorship, and was the last time in which the international competition was held in the country. The project was also personal as Aicher was a fierce opponent of Nazism and a friend of Hans and Sophie Scholl, executed for being members of the White Rose resistance movement. With a team of over eighty creatives, Aicher created an open, carefree, and celebratory brand identity, banning colors of nationalism such as purple, violet, black, and red while employing "heiter" (cheerful) colors, such as greens, blues, and silver, while excluding bold lines and aggressive typography. Prior to the event, Aicher intended for his abstract and expressive imagery to embody what could be called the "Happy Games" or "Rainbow Games," although the openly optimistic ethos was overshadowed by the Munich massacre, when terrorist group Black September murdered eleven members of the Israeli Olympic Team. In recent years, there has been renewed interest in Aicher’s brand identity by scholars and historians, who consider it a cornerstone in 20th-century graphic design. Adapted from a photo by Albrecht Gaebele. Minor edgewear, else fine. Item #9710
$300.00