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Globe design puts Loughborough student on top of the world

Posted on 30/12/2008

Loughborough University Website

Globe design puts Loughborough student on top of the world

Charlene Mitchell, a student from Loughborough University School of Art and Design (LUSAD), has won a prestigious national competition, run by The Daily Telegraph, to create a design for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic opening ceremonies.

The competition offered people the chance to put forward their ideas on how Britain should portray itself to the world-wide audience of millions who will tune in to watch the start of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Sports fanatic Charlene (22) who originates from Stratford-Upon-Avon and is in her final year of studying Illustration decided to focus her designs on showcasing the Games as a national event.

“The opening ceremonies of the Olympic and Paralympics Games are defining moments, characterising how the Games and their host will be seen by the world,” Charlene explains. “After the dazzling performances in Beijing, I wanted to create something memorable for London 2012 that not only reflects what Britain is about, but also conveys the Olympic ethos of uniting nations.”

Charlene’s idea is for a large, colourful, rotating globe to be positioned in the centre of the Olympic stadium.

“The globe will act as a stage for dancers, artists and actors to perform pieces that reflect British life and culture for instance Morris dancers, a Welsh dragon, or the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party to represent British literature and, of course, our love of tea!” she says.

For the competition Charlene also produced a short storyboard using the five Olympic rings. From their traditional formation, the rings move into an inverted ‘V’ shape, before each coloured ring turns into a discrete flock of birds. As the different coloured birds converge at the peak of the ‘V’, they intermingle to reflect all five continents coming together.

Andrew Selby, Cognate Programme Coordinator for Visual Communication, says Charlene’s achievement is well deserved. He comments: “Charlene is a real live wire, full of energy and massively excited about the prospect of London 2012. When this competition went live, we knew she would have a good chance of winning because it embodies so many values that she believes in.”

Charlene’s prize for winning the competition was a luxury night at the Ritz, followed by the chance to join in the celebrations at the Olympic Heroes Parade in London last month.