Graphic Design of Poster for Olympic Winter Games, Sapporo 1972

Abstract

This article aimed to study poster design for Olympic 1964 held in Tokyo, Japan. Considering from the context that Japan has just declared “unconditional surrender” in Potsdam Declaration to end World War II just 19 years ago. This Olympic was thus a meaningful event for Japan not only to gain the world community’s trust again but also to build a foundation for industrial manufacturing in various fields.  The foundation from this Olympic eventually became one of the most valuable factor in Japan’s economic growth in 1970’s and 1980’s. This study surveyed Japan’s photography and printing capability which supported the creative process and production of 4 posters used in the event. The result of the study is that in the design process, designer utilised subtle technic of photography and flash lighting. Photographs were then overlaid with the others graphic elements and printed in photogravure printing technique which required a highly skilled craftsmanship. This is the first time in the world that photographs were used