Luke WilliamsAug 4 2009 1:22 PM
Chicago has been doing a really nice job with it\'s candidate campaign so far. I\'d love to see this city win!
B MacAug 4 2009 1:43 PM
The star in the Chicago logo may have the \"compass\" idea attached to it as well, but it\'s actually the \"Chicago star,\" featured on the city\'s flag and is a big part of the iconography of Chicago.More on it here: http://www.underconsideration.com/brandnew/archives/chicagos_rising_star.php
To the point, I think Chicago and Tokyo\'s best capture the spirit of the games, while each representing their respective backgrounds well.I have to go with Chicago on this one though!Ian Storm TaylorAug 4 2009 1:55 PM
The way you have them listed is the way I\'d choose \'em. I can\'t go against Chicago because they used Gotham, and no one should be able to resist that. Although I really enjoy that hand from Madrid as well.
Rio\'s logo has a few little things that bother me. I have no idea how or for what reasons things were done, but I question why the \"16\" appears to be above the line created by \"Rio 20\", and why didn\'t they drop the 1 down further to make that circle align with candidate city? Maybe they had good reasons that I haven\'t thought of, but as I see it, it looks slightly unfinished. If anyone could show me why I\'m wrong I\'d greatly appreciate it.
And lastly, the Tokyo logo just doesn\'t sit well with me. Doesn\'t feel like the parts work together well enough.
OK, enough of my commentary. Interesting article!JonathanAug 4 2009 2:00 PM
Madrid works better as a mark. It\'s easily identifiable and produces images of nations waving (opening ceremonies... athletes walking together and waving to the masses). At first I found the thickness of both the hand and typeface to be clumsy, but like the world, nothing is perfect.
Chicago is my second favorite. Less playful, this logo commands respect. It\'s very \"Obama.\" The colors are less identifiable as Olympic, but the gradient transitions are soothing and infinite. The compass, while not immediately identifiable as such, divides our fields of sky and water—both arenas of competition.
Madrid Logo, YOU are the Next Food Network StarLuke D.Aug 4 2009 2:11 PM
I vote for the Madrid logo. It sticks in your mind and evokes much more of the \"Olympic feeling\". Something about an open hand creates a very inviting feeling. And the slogan is fantastic. Two small words make you think of the entire Olympic experience. It\'s all about saying Hola to the world.
Chicago is my runner-up as well. It just doesn\'t say \"Olympics\" quite like Madrid.
And I love the idea of Tokyo\'s. But the gradients, typeface and general execution leave me wanting.GaryAug 4 2009 2:15 PM
I actually really like the Bronze medalists logs, Doha especially.
The inverted exclamation point substituting for a 1 is screwing with my eyes.
Chicago\'s is boring, like a logo for an investment bank.Tokyo\'s is nice and I like their font and the thinner rings. Madrid is my favorite.BrianAug 4 2009 2:15 PM
chicago is a bit too corporate looking and doesnt denote worldly. I love the typography and creativity of Rio. Madrid has a good mark but type needs help.
if Rio could bring more olympic colors in, I\'d vote for that - great concept.wilczyAug 4 2009 2:20 PM
chicago looks like it was done by a corp ad firm and sure enough, it was. is that what the olympics are about? its kinda what they\'ve become.
madrid needs some serious typography help and maybe a little tweaking of the \"M\" but the overall concept and style is nice.
rio also has some type issues, trying to do a little too much with what hey have. the large 6 combined with the exclamation point doesnt read very clear as 16. id suggest killing the exclamation point and bringing the 1 down to form a solid 16 as well as implementing the olympic colors into the logo itself.
i like the use of the red dot in tokyo and the idea of friendship but the production of the tie is very weak. a couple different styles between the type and logo leave it a little bland
doha is a bad read, i honestly thought it was idaho at first glance, baku seems a little self centered with no olympic color usage and although the prague logo is nicely done, it feels more like an environmental convention than olympic games.
so, that said.... madrid or rio lead the way for me with a few tweaks.andresAug 4 2009 2:32 PM
I like Madrid\'s. The playfulness of the logo makes you remember that although sporting events - they are games. To be enjoyed by all. It\'s memorable as well. Chicago\'s reminds me too much of all other US Olympic logo designs. Rigid, corporate, forgettable. Almost longs to have a nike swoosh or McDonald\'s \"M\" stacked underneath. And it will...
GabrieleAug 4 2009 2:45 PM
I don\'t like them so much. Maybe Chicago.
GlennAug 4 2009 2:48 PM
I like Madrid\'s. To bad New York isn\'t in the running. They could use the Madrid logo, minus four fingers!
RubenAug 4 2009 3:35 PM
Madrid is the most beautiful city and their logo is the best!
Good luck!
;)PieterAug 4 2009 4:03 PM
I like Rio\'s. It\'s the only one without the olympic colors and it thinks outside the box. Also it\'s the only one that works in greyscale.
Tanner ChristensenAug 4 2009 4:14 PM
I remember the Chicago logo from years ago. Still stands out as one of the best to me.
And, while the Madrid logo is pretty great, whenever I look at it I get the feeling Disney tried to add an extra finger to Mickey Mouse\'s hand. Does anybody else get that feeling?Sean BergerAug 4 2009 4:42 PM
This blog is great. All of it. I enjoy every post.
Alexander WipfAug 4 2009 5:54 PM
Rio with close runner up chicago. Madrid is crap juxtaposition of folks handmade art with digital allures. Tokio could be good, but it\'s to nationalistic and islandish with the red dot. Brasil logo is beautiful but i dont get the naturalistic thing, feels non-credible. Chicago logo is what it is without being to US. My fave.
jayAug 4 2009 8:22 PM
I vote chicago. I neither here nor there with the Gotham. You can say what you will about Gotham, but it sure is a pretty font. In 2016, it will likely not be used on every corner, but hey look at helvetica.
The icon is right on the money for Madrid, but the \"computer\" font is not working, especially the \"empty\" zero, I don\'t think that\'s the proper connotation.
Rio is clumsy with the exclamation point, the font and the colors make me jump all over the place. Also as an outsider I would have no recogination that was sugerloaf,nor does it look like a heart from that angle.
I love the icon for Tokyo, but I think it needs to be reduced in size a little.
just my .02 centsTom LewekAug 4 2009 11:14 PM
Chicago is the cleanest overall design and I enjoy the campaign from images I\'ve seen thus far.However, it\'s also a little too generic and trendy.Though maybe that\'s what will make it more flexible for such a wide-ranging brand.
The mark for Madrid is great, but the typography is lacking, as it is seriously lacking in the other 2 identities.I think Tokyo could have been fantastic if it was executed well.
I\'d say say Chicago is my pick.Rob VAug 5 2009 12:21 AM
This is going to be a tough one. Chicago and Madrid are so spot on, not sure which I\'d choose if it were up to me... OK I\'d choose Chicago, hah.
MatejAug 5 2009 3:35 AM
My vote goes to Madrid! It\'s lovely mark and I think it will work very well as a brand.
ulRaAug 5 2009 4:43 AM
I\'m between Chicago an Madrid, but I think that my favourite is this last one. I\'m Spanish but I\'m trying to be fair.
I\'m with most of things you already said. Chicago is very good, and Gotham typography... I love it. But I think it\'s true what Brian says about being too corporate looking.
About Madrid my favorite is the hand concept, but they need to improve the type.
About the Rio logo, that 1 / ! thing looks horrible for me. And another thing (and maybe this is the stupid one): the 6 doesn\'t look like a 6 for my eyes but like a 9 upside down. I don\'t know if this point makes any sense but thats how my eyes feel it. Maybe they need to correct some weird visual effect with that?Andy CrollAug 5 2009 5:24 AM
Just quick note, these logos are only used for the bid process. When the award is made, the winning city has to use the rings, and can use the torch etc.
See the difference between the London bid logo (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_bid_for_the_2012_Summer_Olympics) and the final logo at london2012.com
As for these... the Madrid one has the most appeal, it\'s a bolder choice than the others. The original Chicago one was great though, perhaps they\'ll reuse it if they win?katieAug 5 2009 5:33 AM
The Chicago one is gorgeous. Take note, London/CPB - I\'m still ashamed of our logo.
C.Aug 5 2009 6:54 AM
Living actually in Madrid, i remember my reaction when i first saw Madrid\'s logo for Olympic Games.
I\'m a cinema student, and for me, an hand with an M written on it makes me directly think of Fritz Lang masterpiece \"M\" (in Germany \"M - Eine Stadt sucht einen Mörder\") in which a pedophile can be recognise by the M someone put on his jacket.
The original poster, which you can see on google by searching \"M+Fritz+Lang\" is pretty close, in a darkest version than Madrid\'s logo.
Just to say that to you all, designers : you have to know a lot not to make errors : symbols can have a lot of meanings depending on people !...martyn redingAug 5 2009 6:59 AM
Katie you\'re crazy in the head. London 2012 is one of the only Olympic logos to ever try and break new ground. These logos are all very nice, but let\'s face it, they all look like they\'ve been spat out by the big smelly Olympic Logo Machine™
LindsayAug 5 2009 9:37 AM
As Andy said these logos are only Olympics Candidate City logo\'s for a bid for the Olympics, once one is selected a logo will be designed for the actual Olympic Games.
I have to say it is a hard thing to design something that is suppose to be a representation of something in the future.GariphicAug 5 2009 10:17 AM
My vote for best design goes to Madrid, hands down (no pun intended). I like the playfulness + welcoming feel of the logo. It exudes friendliness/unity. Like how they inc. all the Olympic color palette into the logo. Not such a fan of the typeface, Chicago logo has best clean typeface.
Chicago is nice, but nothing, not memorable, star element overused in other logos.
Rio\'s logo just looks awkward and tries to hard to be different.
Tokyo\'s approach is good, but I feek i\'ve seen this logostyle before.
Remember, sometimes logos don\'t work on first viewing, but once they get plastered on the side of a Coke can they become familiar.Peter O\'ConnellAug 5 2009 10:49 AM
If I went with my heart rather than my design eyes I would have to pick Chicago.I have walked through O’Hare and seen their huge banner promoting their cause as Olympic host city and just thought it would be awesome if they won.
But because I have to pick with my design goggles on: it’s Madrid. Then I would rank them: Tokyo, Chicago and then Rio.
Reading the stories behind the logos, I think the spirit of the Madrid logo as well as the design match perfectly with what I feel is the Olympic spirit.Terry BainAug 5 2009 11:34 AM
Her name is rio and she dances on the sand just like that river twisting through a dustly land.
Michael LynchAug 5 2009 2:49 PM
Madrid blows the others out of the water with the exception of Chicago (it\'s hard to beat Gotham after Obama\'s winning campaign). Most of them are plain bad. Baku is a horrible logo (Olympics or not). Prague is a nice logo but does not say Olympics at all.
Eric Cabot SteedAug 5 2009 3:59 PM
Chicago ...
TrientjeAug 5 2009 4:15 PM
Madrid\'s logo I like best but I hope the games go to Tokyo ...
maraAug 5 2009 4:32 PM
Chicago gets my vote. Madrid looks quite juvenile to me. The type I feel is quite out of place as well.
AaronAug 5 2009 4:37 PM
The original (banned) Chicago torch logo made sense, it was great and despite not wanting the Olympics to come to Chicago at all, it made me love the project. The six-sided star of Chicago just doesn\'t make sense to me. I never understood why the edges of the gradient rays weren\'t anchored to points on the star. It just looks a bit sloppy.
And Gotham is nice, but it\'s just a band-aid without the torch.
Tokyo\'s knot needs some work, but I think it has some promise. Madrid is sort of whimsical but I think the type is just too oddball. Rio looks like something that came out of 99Designs.cleoAug 5 2009 4:42 PM
Tokyo -- love the color streams.
KarinaAug 5 2009 6:22 PM
Rio, love the i
PaulAug 5 2009 7:07 PM
Chicago used to have a really cool design, incorporating the Sears (now Willis) Tower, but got busted for using it too soon with the Olympic Rings. The new one is alright, Very Corporate yes... Being a Chicagoan, I\'d rather not see us get the games... too many politicans are already pocketing money from it.It\'s business as usual here.
DanielAug 5 2009 7:16 PM
Rio! Who came to the conclusion to include this shining into the Tokyo-logo? Doesn\'t look good in my opinion.
clayAug 5 2009 7:40 PM
OMG! Could the typeface used in the Madrid logo be any worse??? The hand graphic is pretty cliche as well.
Chicago is the best IMO, but still, not all that great.MarcAug 5 2009 7:52 PM
I prefer Rio\'s one.It got style and it\'s out of the box, like it has been said before.
Madrid is a solid second.Love the hand, but not sure about the font.
Tokyo and Chicago comes equal in 3rd.Both looks good, but are too «been there, done that» for me.Sean MartinAug 5 2009 8:03 PM
Frankly, they all look terrible, like pieces taken from a 70s clip art book. Really, people, this is just mediocre strolling.
Daniel BanikAug 5 2009 9:47 PM
I would give it to Tokyo just ahead of Madrid.
KellyAug 5 2009 10:07 PM
chicago and madrid
Gus23Aug 5 2009 11:06 PM
Tokyo FTW!I thought the knot was quite cheesy, especially as an American, I see it everywhere in various colors for so many causes and purposes to unite and inform the masses, that it gets a little cliche.But to learn that the Japanese have a word for the knot and that it\'s used more for celebration than serious social awareness brings a breadth of fresh air to a common symbol.
And huge props to the trivia of soy sauce bottle designer\'s name.I prefer the green cap with less sodium, thx!MikeAug 5 2009 11:08 PM
Madrid does indeed use an awful typeface, and the hand looks chunky and awkward. Chicago\'s star (symbol of the city or not) looks disproportionate, the color scheme -- which I\'m sure is a not-so-subtle allusion to their recently completed waterfront -- misses the point, and the gradients are (as is usually the case) unnecessary.
It looks like Tokyo had the right idea but jumped on the gradient and trendy sans-serif type bandwagon.
You would think this is the kind of project that would draw the best of the best in the design world. (Doha, Qatar couldn\'t do any better than *that*?)Mar GavrAug 6 2009 11:02 AM
My vote goes to Madrid!
LoAug 6 2009 12:10 PM
While i\'d love Chicago to win, it\'s logo seems kind of \"already done.\" Madrid\'s logo, however, really caches my eye. Japan\'s concept and logo are really nice as well. I also think the Rio logo is quite nice. As a designer myself, this would be a really tough choice. But due to the ugly typeface for Madrid, I\'m leaning towards Rio.
szumanAug 6 2009 5:00 PM
Chicago is teh best!
PloiAug 6 2009 5:12 PM
Madrid is the most entertaining symbol and Tokyo\'s is intruiging.My problem with Madrid\'s is that the middle finger is emphasized being in red, this could easily be made into an offensive joke and needless to say gesture.
kennyAug 6 2009 5:26 PM
Madrid ftw!
Easy to draw, so ppl can get it on tshirts or somthin
really easy to remember, doesnt really matter where all the colours go to, with the other ones is just too messy and its just bad :dElsiaAug 6 2009 5:35 PM
Love Chicago and Madrid! Rio could be brighter and simpler.
CirellaAug 6 2009 5:59 PM
My vote goes to Madrid Identity without any doubt. The others doesn\'t \"got it\".
Madrid Logo has everithing, consistency, brigh colors, simplicity, well-shaped, great tipography and also represent cultures and unity, what else could you ask?MaciekAug 6 2009 6:02 PM
Madrid is full of life, it looks fresh. I take it :)
Chicago looks like old star on Christmas treekamAug 6 2009 6:39 PM
vote for Madrid. It\'s very nice and easy to remember. Also simply that\'s why i liked it so much.
PayolAug 6 2009 7:09 PM
Only Madrid. Is clear, fresh and full of emotions. Chicago is like America.... only first look is ok :)
peace
PAYOLSinMChooAug 6 2009 8:15 PM
I like the Madrid, Spain, the logo is so young & fresh, i also like the Tokyo, Japan, the logo get the japan own style and also get a very direct point (Uniting our worlds) . if really wanna get one i will choose Madrid.
ajrmacleAug 6 2009 8:22 PM
London has set the bar so low for Olympic logo design that all of these look like artwork of the highest order in comparison.
That being said, I think I like Madrid\'s the best.Chicago\'s is crisp, but it seems expected.Not too much imagination used.Rio\'s and Tokyo\'s just don\'t look Olympic enough for me.
But regardless of the outcome, doesn\'t the winning city redesign their logo anyway?OlaAug 7 2009 1:01 AM
Praha!!!!
And Chicago :)ZorritoAug 7 2009 2:01 AM
1. Madrid
2. Tokyo
3. none :)MagdaSAug 7 2009 2:22 AM
I like the Madrid, Spain.
Marc BortunAug 7 2009 8:29 AM
Madrid by far!
aliceAug 7 2009 8:37 AM
Only Rio.
A NounAug 7 2009 10:47 AM
Madrid: I keep wanting to make a turkey out of it. Plus a bright red middle finger? Are you kidding me?
Chicago and Tokyo are equally beautiful and streamlined.
Rio: Only three colors? You weren\'t even trying.Richard ScottAug 7 2009 12:23 PM
Madrid is the best. But none of them are as good as the London 2012 one - genius.
KatieAug 7 2009 3:49 PM
I really like the Chicago design. It reminds me a lot of the signage for the World\'s Fair in Chicago in 1933, with the simple colors and clean lines. It\'s simple, but not boring. It cultivates an image in your mind.
TiagoAug 7 2009 3:57 PM
Rio ♥
SEM ForumAug 7 2009 4:18 PM
Madrid, I like that one best
MiaAug 7 2009 4:29 PM
I like Chicago\'s, but I think I would like it more if it used more of the Olympic colors.
I think the Madrid one is really cute, though I\'m not sure about the slogan.
I like Rio\'s, but like others have mentioned, it doesn\'t include Olympic colors, and the ! for the 1 is really odd... Yeah the Olympics are exciting but that doesn\'t make a lot of sense. I really like their slogan though.
I don\'t like Tokyo\'s very much, though it does look nice.
I think I would have to go with Madrid, but use Rio\'s slogan!!StephaneAug 7 2009 6:32 PM
Madrid logo\'s look very nice and very humans, I love that !!
xAug 7 2009 8:19 PM
i think \'hand\' goes for the prize ;p
chikadeeAug 7 2009 8:54 PM
TOKYO nummber 1. its clean cut, incorporates a bit of culture, and it demonstrates unity and celebrates it, its also 1 of only 2 using the olympic colors.
madrid is TERRIBLE.the hand looks like the work of a small child doing handpainting and the font is lacking. points for the colors though.
chicago and rio are both good designs but they seem to both just want to advertise themselves and not the games.
1. tokyo
2. madrid or chicago
3. rioEliAug 8 2009 5:37 AM
The Madrid and Tokyo logos are quite beautiful, in my opinion.
Colour scheme of the Rio logo doesn\'t suit very well.mircindirAug 8 2009 3:59 PM
thank you very much :)))
PintoAug 9 2009 4:21 PM
Madrid all the way!
Chicago reminds me Salt Lake City 2002!aditiAug 11 2009 12:11 AM
I think Madrid did the best job. Even though the concept isn\'t exactly ground breaking atleast its a fun and exciting interpretation.
marilynAug 11 2009 6:30 AM
MADRID.It is fresh and inspiring. I don\'t like any of the others at all. They are all plain and look pretty much the same.
KarenAug 11 2009 9:53 AM
I like Tokyo and Madrid. They are so close it would be a toss up for me.
SherryAug 11 2009 10:10 AM
I love the Madrid logo.It\'s very playful and original, and I think it\'s great that the \"M\" for Madrid is incorporated in the shape, although perhaps it could have been a little cleaner silouette.I think it\'s by far the most modern logo. The motto for Madrid definitely needs some work.I also like the Tokyo logo, but I think that and the other logos are far too traditional!!
AnaAug 11 2009 3:28 PM
Rio de Janeiro ♥ because it is a wonderful city :)
HenriqueAug 11 2009 9:00 PM
I don´t like Tokio logo because I don´t think the typography goes well with the symbol. I don´t like Chicago because that logo sounds me like something religious and I think the typography is poor. I don´t linke the madrid logo because I think there´s too much colors and little identity.
I really love the rio logo. I love the simplicity of shapes in sophisticated concepts.Jasmin HalkićAug 12 2009 8:10 AM
Rio si my FAV...
dainenAug 12 2009 8:16 AM
If we could put Madrids logo and Chicagos font together it would look great...
Fábio LédaAug 12 2009 8:51 AM
I think the Chicago logo is well-done and fits better in a professional job. But I loved the Madrid logo too, but not the typography. It has a rude shape, it can be more clean. The Rio logo is poor, it uses a cliche that\'s possible to see in any logo made to any sport game, which is the Corcovado shape and the brazilian flag colors too. I think it can be more audacious. Anyway, I like the typography from Chicago logo and the symbol from Madrid.
Andrew MAug 13 2009 9:12 PM
The Rio logo seems to balance the human and green/nature sides with the flavor of the location. The logo is only one piece of the overall identity so this makes chosing tough. And let\'s not forget about the weird Olympic mascots that need to be created.
It\'s well past time for South America to host the Olympics.FirgsAug 14 2009 1:59 PM
I am a designer from Chicago so I may be a little biased here - but I do like that one the best. Two things missed the mark for me on the Madrid logo. One - the typography is a mess. It feels as if they were trying to go sophisticated and then at the last minute switched to tech. Two - my eye goes right to the red middle finger. It\'s almost as if the logo is giving the bird - an international no-no. Had the middle finger and the ring finger been in the same color and had they stuck with one font choice instead of several, this logo would have been amazing. The idea is fantastic! It just falls apart in the execution IMO.
xAkux.comAug 15 2009 1:44 PM
Muy buena... me quedo con Madrid!
JoolzAug 19 2009 9:30 AM
There\'s a huge simmilarity between the Madrid and Terra (Lycos) logos. Maybe the designers are paying hommage to Alberto Herencia (http://albertoherencia.com/)
CalebAug 26 2009 9:06 PM
Will definitely go for Madrid :-) Conveys an amazing clarity in their logo, attractive enough to capture your attention, simple enough for you to appreciate the idea behind the design.
ColorleakAug 28 2009 12:46 AM
Here\'s the breakdown:
Chicago- Yes please. 5/5
Madrid- The font? Change it to something classier minus the dashed out 0 and we\'ll talk. 3/5
Rio- 1/5 That\'s just about what every prescription drug uses for it\'s logo.
Tokyo- Very very nice. I will say that China just went, so...but still, 5/5
Doha- This just looks like some Half Price Bookstore software from 2006. 2/5
Baku- Totally missing the point, it looks like some new age gong logo. Trust me, I know. 0/5
Praha- Nice, but it really isn\'t anything new, plus it looks something unfinished anyway. 3/5TrgyAug 28 2009 11:09 AM
I prefer Rio\'s one.It got style and it\'s out of the box, like it has been said before.
Madrid is a solid second.Love the hand, but not sure about the font.
Tokyo and Chicago comes equal in 3rd.Both looks good, but are too «been there, done that» for me.RodrokSep 8 2009 9:42 AM
1 - Madrid
2 - Rio
3 - Chicago
999999- TokyommmmSep 17 2009 5:40 PM
The Chicago logo looks the cleanest. It has sharp edges and points. It commands attention and looks very fresh. Also the Chicago star/Compass adds great meaning to the logo. The best part of it is that it is entirely symmetrical, like all things should be!
My second vote goes with Madrid. The hand is a nice symbol for the Olympics.Miriam G MSep 29 2009 4:36 PM
Rio\'s logo is superb. For those of you who do not know the city: the butterfly dipicting the Sugar Loaf rocks, within its open-hearted-shaped-wings is a masterpieace of creativity! Heart: friendly welcoming people of Rio. Colors: great, to represent all sports envolved in the games. The \'!\' mark standing for the \'1\' in 2016 implies the open-mouthed state of mind of visitors contemplating the beauties of the city. In a word: fantastic!
GO RIO http://www.rio2016.org.br/pt/Default.aspxStevieSep 30 2009 4:14 AM
Live your passion for sports.
I think when people have passion for sports instead of just titles and medals, you don\'t have to tell us more about unity, friendship, blessings, etc. Cos that\'s what sports and fair play are all about. Drawings can be refined or redesigned, but getting the right spirit is always more important.
Go Rio!CharlotteOct 15 2009 10:46 AM
Based on logo design alone, my vote goes to Madrid. The others all feel a bit flat. But they\'re all miles better than the London 2012 logo, which is my home city - I\'m not looking forward to seeing its hideousness plastered all over this town in 2.5 years\' time.
carolina GarzaFeb 22 2010 11:45 PM
I love Madrid´s icon...it reflects the spirit fo the games, but i don´t like the type used...and i love chicago´s type but that logo is colder, (and I don´t like gradients)