MUNICH 1972: AN ALL-EMBRACING LOOK

Munich 72 - The Games host country and city by International Olmympic Comitee (IOC)The Olympic Museum

THE GAMES HOST COUNTRY AND CITY

Munich 72 - Tradition and modernity by International Olmympic Comitee (IOC)The Olympic Museum

TRADITION AND MODERNITY
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Munich: a city of folk garments/dances and local traditions – with its Lederhosen, Dirndl, Schuhplattler and Oktoberfest – and also the modern, industrial home of automobile manufacturer BMW.

Munich 1972, IOC, 1972-01-01/1972-01-01, From the collection of: The Olympic Museum
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Lederhosen - short leather breeches – form part of the traditional Bavarian folk costume for men.

Munich 1972, IOC, 1972-01-01/1972-01-01, From the collection of: The Olympic Museum
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The Schuhplattler is a folk dance in which the performers jump up and down to the music while striking their legs, knees and feet with their hands held flat.

Munich 1972, IOC, 1972-01-01/1972-01-01, From the collection of: The Olympic Museum
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Oktoberfest with traditional Dirndl costumes and, of course, tankards of beer.

Munich city, Diego Delso, 2012-04-28, From the collection of: The Olympic Museum
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The industrial site and headquarters of automobile manufacturer BMW (Bayerische Motoren Werke).

Munich 1972 (1972-01-01/1972-01-01) by IOCThe Olympic Museum

THE SIZE OF A CAPITAL, THE CHARM OF A SMALL TOWN

Munich, the Bavarian capital with over one million inhabitants; and Munich, the city with a relaxed, almost Mediterranean way of life.

Munich 1972, IOC, 1972-01-01/1972-01-01, From the collection of: The Olympic Museum
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The Olympiapark and the Olympiaturm, the broadcast tower with a height of nearly 300 metres.

Munich 1972, IOC, 1972-01-01/1972-01-01, From the collection of: The Olympic Museum
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The Marienplatz in the pedestrianised historic city centre, with the church and the town hall.

Munich 72 - The main art trends (2018-01-01) by IOCThe Olympic Museum

THE MAINS ART TRENDS

Munich 1972 (1972-01-01/1972-01-01) by IOCThe Olympic Museum

THE DARING DECADE

A heady mixture of psychedelic designs, colours and materials; rounded objects and low furniture to create a cocoon feel: a wave of colour and fun swept through the seventies!

Munich 1972, IOC, 1972-01-01/1972-01-01, From the collection of: The Olympic Museum
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A Volkswagen camper van in very seventies colours.

Munich 1972 the daring decade, IOC, 2018-01-01, From the collection of: The Olympic Museum
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Even the wallpaper was brightly coloured.

Munich 1972, IOC, 1972-01-01/1972-01-01, From the collection of: The Olympic Museum
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Colour television increasingly became the norm.

Munich 72 - The look of the games by IOCThe Olympic Museum

THE LOOK OF THE GAMES

Munich 1972 (1972-01-01/1972-01-01) by IOCThe Olympic Museum

RIGOUR, CONSISTENCY AND EFFICIENCY

From the decoration of urban areas to matchbooks, everything went together; everything followed the playful, colourful spirit inspired by Otl Aicher and his team; everything contributed to make the Munich Games a historic and instantly recognisable edition.

Olt Aicher: Design Director Munich 1972The Olympic Museum

OTL AICHER
“The setting for the Games plays a decisive part in their success.”

Munich 1972, IOC, 1972-01-01/1972-01-01, From the collection of: The Olympic Museum
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Otl Aicher and his team.

Munich 1972, IOC, 1972-01-01/1972-01-01, From the collection of: The Olympic Museum
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The Look of the Games poster: everything has to go together.

Munich 1972, IOC, 1972-01-01/1972-01-01, From the collection of: The Olympic Museum
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The Games visual identity in the city and at competition venues.

Munich 1972, IOC, 1972-01-01/1972-01-01, From the collection of: The Olympic Museum
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30x30cm “Swiss Baptist” pocket tissue distributor.

Munich 1972, IOC, 1972-01-01/1972-01-01, From the collection of: The Olympic Museum
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Matchbooks.

Munich 1972, IOC, 1972-01-01/1972-01-01, From the collection of: The Olympic Museum
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Aesthetic and functional clothing, with a colour code for each area (welcome, security, toilets, etc.).

Munich 1972, IOC, 1972-01-01/1972-01-01, From the collection of: The Olympic Museum
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Hostess uniform inspired by traditional Bavarian dress.

Munich 1972, IOC, 1972-01-01/1972-01-01, From the collection of: The Olympic Museum
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Cufflinks.

Munich 1972, IOC, 1972-01-01/1972-01-01, From the collection of: The Olympic Museum
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Portable radio, orange with rounded corners in the seventies style.

Munich 1972, IOC, 1972-01-01/1972-01-01, From the collection of: The Olympic Museum
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The rounded seventies style again.

Munich 1972 (1972-01-01/1972-01-01) by IOCThe Olympic Museum

A RAINBOW PALETTE

The idea was to give a new image of Munich and Germany, totally different from that of the 1936 Games in Berlin. So fresh bright colours inspired by the Bavarian countryside and the spirit of the 1970s, but no red, black or gold.

Munich 1972, IOC, 1972-01-01/1972-01-01, From the collection of: The Olympic Museum
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The official poster in “Olympic Blue 72” and “Olympic White 72”, two colours which represented Bavaria and its culture; designed by Gerhard Joksch, who also created the pictograms.

Munich 1972, IOC, 1972-01-01/1972-01-01, From the collection of: The Olympic Museum
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Poster for the wrestling competitions in “Olympic Orange 72”. All the posters were by Gerhard Joksch.

Munich 1972, IOC, 1972-01-01/1972-01-01, From the collection of: The Olympic Museum
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Poster for the equestrian competitions in “Olympic Light Orange 72”.

Munich 1972, IOC, 1972-01-01/1972-01-01, From the collection of: The Olympic Museum
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Poster for the football competitions in “Olympic Green 72”.

Munich 1972, IOC, 1972-01-01/1972-01-01, From the collection of: The Olympic Museum
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Poster for the kayak competitions in “Olympic Silver 72”.

Munich 1972, IOC, 1972-01-01/1972-01-01, From the collection of: The Olympic Museum
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Poster for the gymnastics competitions in “Olympic Blueviolet 72”.

Munich 1972, IOC, 1972-01-01/1972-01-01, From the collection of: The Olympic Museum
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Mascot presentation poster in “Olympic Dark Green 72”.

Munich 1972 (1972-01-01/1972-01-01) by IOCThe Olympic Museum

A RAINBOW SAUSAGE DOG

The Bavarian touch, with the most popular dog in Bavaria, and the six “Olympic 72” colours: corporate through and through!

Elena Winschermann: Graphic designer Munich 1972The Olympic Museum

ELENA WINSCHERMANN

« A mascot compatible with the entire design »

Munich 1972, IOC, 1972-01-01/1972-01-01, From the collection of: The Olympic Museum
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The early stages of Waldi.

Munich 1972, IOC, 1972-01-01/1972-01-01, From the collection of: The Olympic Museum
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Waldi as a work in progress.

Munich 1972, IOC, 1972-01-01/1972-01-01, From the collection of: The Olympic Museum
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Waldi in the six “Olympic 72” colours.

Munich 1972, IOC, 1972-01-01/1972-01-01, From the collection of: The Olympic Museum
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Waldi was the first official mascot in the history of the Summer Games. Here he is as a cuddly version for small children.

Munich 1972 (1972-01-01/1972-01-01) by IOCThe Olympic Museum

« RADIANT MUNICH »

This is the message expressed by the emblem with its crown of rays of light, reflecting the spirit of the Games in Munich: fresh, generous, bright.

Munich 1972, IOC, 1972-01-01/1972-01-01, From the collection of: The Olympic Museum
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Seeking the best solution.

Munich 1972, IOC, 1972-01-01/1972-01-01, From the collection of: The Olympic Museum
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Munich 1972, IOC, 1972-01-01/1972-01-01, From the collection of: The Olympic Museum
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Adding the five rings, which have to be included.

Munich 1972, IOC, 1972-01-01/1972-01-01, From the collection of: The Olympic Museum
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All the elements are there: “M” for Munich, the date of the Games, the rings and the crown of rays of light.

Munich 1972, IOC, 1972-01-01/1972-01-01, From the collection of: The Olympic Museum
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Munich 1972, IOC, 1972-01-01/1972-01-01, From the collection of: The Olympic Museum
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There it is in the Design Manual.

Munich 1972, IOC, 1972-01-01/1972-01-01, From the collection of: The Olympic Museum
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Munich 1972, IOC, 1972-01-01/1972-01-01, From the collection of: The Olympic Museum
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Munich 1972 (1972-01-01/1972-01-01) by IOCThe Olympic Museum

« GEOMETRIC MAN »

A silhouette made up of simple circles and straight lines, adapted to illustrate 21 sports. A precise and pared-down process to create a universal language that everyone can understand.

Gerhard Joksch: Caricaturist and graphic designer Munich 1972The Olympic Museum

GERHARD JOKSCH’S ABSTRACT THINKING

Munich 1972, IOC, 1972-01-01/1972-01-01, From the collection of: The Olympic Museum
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Munich 1972, IOC, 1972-01-01/1972-01-01, From the collection of: The Olympic Museum
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Munich 1972, IOC, 1972-01-01/1972-01-01, From the collection of: The Olympic Museum
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Munich 1972, IOC, 1972-01-01/1972-01-01, From the collection of: The Olympic Museum
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Munich 1972, IOC, 1972-01-01/1972-01-01, From the collection of: The Olympic Museum
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Pictograms in their black-and-white version and six “Olympic 72” colours version.

Munich 1972, IOC, 1972-01-01/1972-01-01, From the collection of: The Olympic Museum
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Gerhard Joksch, lithographer and caricaturist, creator of the pictograms and posters for the Munich 1972 Games.

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.

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