Designers react to the Tokyo Olympics logo

Yesterday saw the unveiling of the new logos for both the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo. Following on from a previous logo design (opens in new tab), which was withdrawn seven months ago due to plagiarism accusations, a competition was held to create a new identity for the games.

Over 15,000 new logos were submitted and the contenders were whittled down to a shortlist of four designs. The public was invited to vote for the winner, with Japanese designer Asao Tokolo's geometric patterns (opens in new tab) emerging on top.

Dubbed the Harmonized Checkered Emblem, the blocky yet circular logo represents different countires, cultures and ways of thinking all coming together. Meanwhile the indigo blue is a traditional Japanese colour that expresses elegance and sophistication.

Created in the wake of a plagiarism scandal, this logo was always going to have to work extra hard to prove itself. However it has already won over fans thanks to its clever, subtle reflection of Japanese culture, as well as the inclusive nature of the games in general.

But when it comes to logo designs, there are always going to be critics. And the Harmonized Checkered Emblem is no exception. Many designers felt let down that the design didn't reflect the culture of the country, choosing to overlook the careful use of colour.

Some even went further and drafted a new design that should have been used in the place of the winning creation.

With so many images associated with the Olympics and host countries, any logo is going to be accused of being either unoriginal or missing the mark. But with the public backing this design, there's no arguing that it's the most popular graphic for the games. Roll on 2020 when we can see it in action!