GLOBAL, JANUARY 2010 – The logo for the Rio de Janerio 2016 Olympics was unveiled on New Year’s Eve to much praise, and controversy as well. Brazilian media and logo experts noticed a very strong similarity to the logo of Telluride Foundation, a Colorado-based foundation for philantrophic giving. Both logos showcase a stylized silhouette of people hand-in-hand, forming in a circle.
Tatil, the agency that designed the logo, denied that any plagiarism took place. Fred Gelli, director of Tatil claims that the agency did extensive research to make sure their logo was unique. “For some reason we missed that one.” He said. He also dismissed comparisons to Henri Matisse’s The Dance, which showed women hand-in-hand, forming a circle.
Interestingly, TheLogoFactory tracked down Rio’s 2004 Carnaval Logo, which shows the same concept, with colors closer to that of the Telluride Foundation. Which came first? We can only wonder.
But by most accounts, copied or not, Rio 2016 is more endearing than London 2012’s blocky logo.
