1. Otl Aicher
Pictograms and Infographics

2. • Was one of the leading German graphic
designers of the 20th century
• Aicher is best known for being the main
designer for the 1972 Munich Olympics

3. 1972 Munich Olympics
•Aicher
developed about
180 pictograms
about sports
activities and
support services

4. “ Aicher was consistently engaged with
creating and promoting an internationally
comprehensible system of symbols”

5. • The pictograms derived from typical postures
in each sports discipline. They were designed
using a set of standardised graphic elements
arranged on a grid

6. Infographics

7. • The original set of pictograms used in the
Olympics grew in the following years into a
collection of symbols used mainly in airports
and public buildings.

8. • Aicher’s Frankfurt Airport sign system was
installed in 1971.

9. • One of the central techniques in Aicher’s
pictograms was the creation of a common
language through repitition.

10. “Aicher expressed the
intent to develop a
language based on
pictorial symbols.”

11. • After the Olympics
Aicher quickly
extended his set of
pictograms into a
tool for organising
transportation
through the help of
the ERCO
• He designed over
900 pictograms for
ERCO

12. London 2012 Olympics