Hasta La Ideas

Although there had been some design hiccups and controversies along the way with the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, everything we’d seen down here in the lower 48 seemed great by us. So it’s with great sadness to report that the director of design for the upcoming games, Leo Obstbaum, suddenly passed away late last week at the much too young age of 40. Working with the Vancouver Olympic Organizing Committee, Obstbaum had overseen everything from the torch designs to the afformention troublesome mascots, and was preparing to soon unveil the designs of the event’s medals. Here’s a bit:

Vanoc CEO John Furlong looked shaken as he told a Vancouver Sun columnist about Obstbaum’s death at home.

He later paid tribute to the designer in an internal message to staff.

“Leo is everywhere you look, in every colour, every texture, in every little bit of Vancouver 2010. Leo led and influenced the design of some of the most iconic pieces of the 2010 Winter Games. His spirit and daring inspiration has touched absolutely everything and because of him memories of the Games will live on for generations. A true enduring legacy of what went on here in Vancouver.”

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