I would like to preface my excitement by saying that I am not a snowboarder, and I don’t like blue jeans (sorry to my dog who I call blue jeans, if you are reading this I do like you). Despite these two things I have to say that I was amazed when I saw Burton’s uniform for the 2010 Olympic Snowboard team.
Having tried to design for the Olympics myself (as a student project), I know the guidelines, rules, and committee hoops that need to be jumped through to get anything done. That is why all Olympic advertising, graphic design, and even down to the Olympic Logo itself essentially looks dumbed-down and sterilized. Don’t want to offend. Don’t want to cause controversy.
Well snowboarding is all about controversy, and the execs at Burton must embody that attitude to get this design through.
I don’t like everything about the design. But I love that it’s unique, and creative. Good job Burton.