Leni Gao
BFA in Illustration - Motion Illustration — IllustrationMilano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics Rebrand
The Olympic Games have been held for many years, but the younger generation nowadays pays less attention to them. I want to create a more welcoming branding to attract more younger audiences. The Olympic Games pursue the greater goods of humanity; I believe their design should keep up with this idea and be more impactful.
For this retro-celebratory tone rebranding, I was inspired by the news of Italians singing and cheering on their balconies during the COVID-19 pandemic. Italy is a country with a culture of celebration and passion, and I want to incorporate these virtues into this rebranding. I used a vintage color palette that connects to Milan’s rich local history. I also designed a custom typeface for the logo that captures movement and celebration. When the typeface is associated with the colors, a pattern reminiscent of confetti appears. More identity is shown through posters, website and social media design, merchandise design, and environmental installations.