An Olympics Designed By Royal College Of Art Alumni

Passing through more than 1,000 cities and towns across the UK, carried by 8,000 torchbearers and seen by millions, the Olympic Torch is one of the most visible design briefs in the world.

It's more than a triumph then, that design studio Barber Osgerby, alumni of RCA's Architecture programme and whose work includes commissions for Vitra, Cappellini, Swarovski and Flos, won a competitive tender to design the torch last year.

The triangular, gold-coloured torch bears 8,000 perforations, representing the 8,000 torch carriers and their remarkable stories.

The brief to design the commemorations of one of the greatest sporting achievements an athlete could have was always to be one of the most demanding, requiring a deft combination of modern and ancient symbolism, narrative and accolade.

Artist and RCA sculpture alumnus David Watkins beat six renowned artists chosen by UK arts organisations and a panel of creative leaders, to clinch the commission. His design features a core abstract and architectural emblem and a depiction of the River Thames. The front must always depict Nike, the Greek goddess of victory, stepping out of the Panathinaiko Stadium to arrive in the host city.

At 85mm, Watkins' designs are the biggest summer Olympics medals to date.

At the time of publication, Heatherwick Studio was keeping its design for the Olympic cauldron firmly under wraps.

Thomas Heatherwick – the designer behind the reinvented London Routemaster and alumnus of the College's Design Products programme – tells Dezeen the cauldron was 'the most top secret’ thing he has ever worked on.

Until the cauldron is lit at the opening ceremony on 27 July, marking the beginning of the Games, all that’s known about the cauldron is that it’s a ‘moment design’.

RCA painting alumni Tracey Emin, Anthea Hamilton and Bridget Riley were among 12 eminent UK artists commissioned to create official posters that would embody the values of the Olympics and the Paralympics. First unveiled last November, the posters are currently part of a free exhibition at Tate Britain.

Anthea Hamilton’s Divers depicts a synchronised swimmer in a pose – a nod to the challenges of the more aesthetic sports of the Games, while Bridget Riley’s distinct horizontal stripes suggest athletic tracks. Tracey Emin’s Birds draws on the Paralympic values of inspiration and determination, resulting in a dedication to those athletes.

Although artist Neville Gabie’s tenure as artist-in-resident for the Olympic Park came to an end in January when the ODA handed it over to Games’ organiser Locog, his work was an important documentation of some of the behind-the-scenes workers crucial to the Games.

Gabie, a graduate of the RCA’s sculpture programme, made a series of films, photography and sculptures, culminating in Freeze Frame – a high profile recreation of Neo-Impressionist Georges Seurat’s Bathers in Asnières.

The Games will see 4,400 medal winners stand on 40 podiums throughout more than 770 victory ceremonies in 29 different venues across the UK. As a defining moment in an athlete’s career, all elements of the victory ceremonies have to reflect momentous achievement and excitement.

Innovation Design Engineering students Gaetano Ling, Hong-Yeul Eom, Luc Fusaro, Heegun Koo and Yan Lu took their cue from energy of the Games and athletes to devise podia based on dynamic lines, while Fashion students Thomas Crisp and Trine Hav Christensen created the ceremonial costumes. RCA graduate Zara Gorman created the hat, which will be worn by presenter escorts.

Rector Paul Thompson commented: ‘With such international appeal, the Games are an unparalleled opportunity to showcase the strength of a British design education to a worldwide audience. London 2012 should really be named RCA 2012, given the far-reaching involvement of our staff, alumni, and students in designing everything from an accommodation block for the athletes, to the medals, the winners' podium, escorts uniforms, and of course the torch and cauldron.’