Seventeenth International Conference on Design Principles & Practices

Abstract

The Olympics present a unique opportunity to engage people from diverse cultures at one location for a celebratory, esteemed, competitive athletic event. Recognizing The Games additionally as an opportunity to establish connections between sport, culture, and creativity, The Olympic Foundation for Culture and Heritage initiated the Olympic Agora to showcase visual art. Artists and designers were guided to create Noren curtains (traditional Japanese curtains commonly hung in entryways) to represent cooperation, determination, resilience, and peace. This case study shares the methodologies and solutions that were involved in this interdisciplinary and international project towards a shared goal. Consideration within the creative process was also directed at the tentative reality of the lingering global pandemic. For the first time in Olympic history, The Games had been postponed for one year, ultimately occurring in 2021. The Tokyo 2021 Olympics signaled the restoration of physical interaction and competition on a global scale, allowing physical, mental, and emotional healing. The Olympic Agora, featuring the work of five Olympians and one Paralympian, served as a cultural hub that created a sense of community through a free and accessible environmental installation for the international audience.