Otl Aicher

Pictograms and Infographics

• Was one of the leading German graphic designers of the 20th century

• Aicher is best known for being the main designer for the 1972 Munich Olympics

1972 Munich Olympics•Aicher developed about 180 pictograms about sports activities and support services

“ Aicher was consistently engaged with creating and promoting an internationally comprehensible system of symbols”

• The pictograms derived from typical postures in each sports discipline. They were designed using a set of standardised graphic elements arranged on a grid

Infographics

• The original set of pictograms used in the Olympics grew in the following years into a collection of symbols used mainly in airports and public buildings.

• Aicher’s Frankfurt Airport sign system was installed in 1971.

• One of the central techniques in Aicher’s pictograms was the creation of a common language through repitition.

“Aicher expressed the intent to develop a language based on pictorial symbols.”

• After the Olympics Aicher quickly extended his set of pictograms into a tool for organising transportation through the help of the ERCO

• He designed over 900 pictograms for ERCO

London 2012 Olympics