Perfection in Lines.

If you’ve flipped on the T.V. in the past couple days, you can’t help but know the Winter Olympics are happening in Vancouver.

Luge competitors use their muscles to command each turn of the course- no matter how subtle the movement- and rigidity is key. Skiers must maintain perfect parallel lines, not to mention move their bodies with impeccable precision when jumping- becoming one with their skis. Snowboarders seem to defy gravity as they fly, round impossible turns and stop flawlessly- all while keeping their bodies in line with their boards.

Maybe the most fascinating of all is the figure skating competition- pairs, to be exact. The point of the event is for two people to move as one- in perfect unison. They are judged on the lines their bodies form, the strength of a hold, the stickiness of a landing, the synchronization of a quadruple axel. Whether he’s lifting her high above his head, or swinging her low against the ice, her body exudes grace and… yes, perfectly straight limbs.

There are lots of events, including luge, alpine skiing, snowboarding, inline skating, figure skating, and more. These fierce competitors are in amazing athletic shape; after all, it’s the position of their bodies that determine their success. It’s all about lines.

In any of the Winter Game events, if even one of these lines is off, it’s cause for penalty. Even a little wobble or scribble can cause a mistake- and ultimately a medal. You can obviously tell when a performance has been done well; it looks flawless and graceful. Same with design. It’s obvious when principle rules have been applied with restraint and purpose- the work flows… with grace, and straight lines.

Design is an integral part of the Olympic Games; the best athletes in the world are the best at forming perfect lines. The best designers are perhaps most adept at the very same thing.