[Design System]
NBC Paris Olympics
Sports Media
NBC Paris Olympics
Developed an iconography design system used across NBC’s “Kids’ Guide to the Olympics” publication and the 2024 NBC Paris Olympics site.
Project Overview
NBC Sports Next tasked the Creative Services team with developing accessible, engaging assets for the Paris 2024 Olympics. My role focused mainly on bringing these needs to life through creating a comprehensive icon library for all Paralympic sports, ensuring clarity and consistency across platforms.
Problem Statement
Paralympic athletes are often underrepresented or misrepresented in mainstream media visuals. How might we create an icon library that honors the diversity of Paralympic sports and athletes while remaining clear, accessible, and scalable across platforms?
Industry
Sports Media
My Role
Designer
Platforms
Web and Print
Timeline
July 2023 - August 2023
Process
(01) Understanding Audience
Researched Paralympic sports extensively to authentically represent each discipline and athlete.
Gathered reference imagery for every sport to ensure accurate, respectful visual representation.
Studied the iconography and design language from the previous "Kids' Guide to the Olympics" for consistency and familiarity.
(02) Design Thinking
Developed a cohesive visual system where all icons share the same geometric language and visual weight.
Simplified each complex Paralympic sport into clear, recognizable symbols without sacrificing descriptive detail.
Tested icons at multiple sizes to guarantee legibility and accessibility across platforms.
Key Learnings
The Importance of Testing
I realized early on that I shouldn't just design these icons in Figma and deliver. Once I started testing them at different sizes and getting feedback, I discovered issues I'd completely missed, and those insights shaped the entire system. It made me understand the importance of iterating with real feedback and not going with my first approach.
How to Build True Visual Consistency
This project was early in my career when I was an intern, but seeing my icon system used at such a massive scale taught me so much about what it actually takes to maintain consistency. It forced me to think systematically about every decision, and that experience shaped how I approach visual design work today.