The London 2012 Olympic Torch was create by UK design studio Edward Barber & Jay Osgerby, who won the prestigious Design of the Year award for their work. They were chosen out of 89 entries and presented the award at London’s Design Museum at the annual event, BBC News is reporting
It is perforated with 8,000 holes, each one representing a torchbearer. The torch relay will run for 70 days starting May 19th. The journey will begin in Land’s End in South West England and ends in Westminster before being brought to the Olympic Park.
The Design Awards jury consisted of newspaper proprietor Evgeny Lebedev, Wallpaper editor Henrietta Thompson, Dutch designer Hella Jongerious, chairman of the Canary Wharf Group, Sir George Iacobescu, and chaired by designer Lise Crawford.
Despite winning the prestigious award, it has met with some public criticism, with the English publication The Telegraph holding an informal poll of what the design looks like most: a cheese grater, a cigarette holder, a waste paper bin, or an actual Olympic torch. A cheese grater won out, but it was followed by Olympic torch in a close second.
The Telegraph posted this picture at the clos of the poll, comparing it to similar looking cheese graters:
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Hey, it does look like a cheese grater.
Personally, I think the design is good. I’m not a fan of the 2012 Olympic logo on there, though. If anything, that logo should be criticized, especially if you look at the full color version. It makes it look like this Olympics is being held in 1988, and the jagged design would be more fitting of a winter Olympics, representing a mountain top or ice.
What do you think? Tell us in the comments below.
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