Canoe Slalom – Munich 1972, by Otl Aicher

This dynamic poster, designed by Otl Aicher for the 1972 Munich Olympics, captures the intensity of slalom canoeing. A competitor, wearing a numbered jersey and helmet, navigates turbulent whitewater, his paddle cutting through the waves. The poster's colour palette of cool blues, greens, and greys contrasts with the chaotic motion of the water, while the athlete’s sharp form stands out against the fluid background. The design uses Aicher’s signature halftone technique.

Slalom canoeing made its Olympic debut at the 1972 Munich Games, held at a specially constructed artificial course in Augsburg, Germany. Unlike sprint canoeing, which takes place on flat water, slalom requires competitors to maneuver through a series of gates on fast-moving rapids, testing their precision and agility. The Munich Olympics were noted for their highly organized and visually cohesive design identity, with Aicher creating a standardized set of posters and pictograms that would become a landmark in graphic design history.

Otl Aicher (1922–1991) was a pioneering German graphic designer best known for his work on the visual identity of the 1972 Olympics. His minimalist, grid-based designs emphasized clarity and universal accessibility, setting a new standard for modern graphic communication. Aicher also played a crucial role in corporate branding, working with companies such as Lufthansa and Braun.