What every designer can learn from the Olympic medals disaster
Creative Bloq
by Tom May February 22, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
The Olympic medal disaster at the Milan Winter Olympics serves as a stark reminder of what happens when design concepts overshadow practicality and durability. Several athletes experienced their medals falling apart during the event, with US skier Breezy Johnson warning others after her gold medal nearly slipped away. German biathlete Justus Strelow’s medal came loose on live TV, while Swedish cross-country skier Ebba Andersson’s silver medal broke completely in the snow. The medals’ clip mechanism was intended as a safety feature but ended up causing more harm than good, leading to widespread criticism and logistical challenges.
The incident highlights the importance of understanding the "moment of truth" in design—when the product is put to its most critical use. For Olympic medals, this moment occurs during the podium ceremony when athletes lift them triumphantly for cameras. However, the medals’ design failed under real-world conditions, such as wet hands or drops on snow. This failure underscores the need to prioritize functionality and reliability over symbolic concepts. While the two-part design aimed to symbolize teamwork, it ultimately became a liability.
The breakdown of the medals also reveals a broader lesson in branding and user experience. The Olympics represents human excellence, and its physical touchpoint—the medal—is crucial for honoring that achievement. When this touchpoint fails publicly, it undermines trust and creates logistical headaches. Sentimental value, though important, requires the object to hold together under real-world conditions. Designers must ensure their concepts never overshadow consequences, focusing instead on creating products that work seamlessly when they matter most.
This disaster serves as a cautionary tale for designers: creativity must be tempered with practicality. The world is unpredictable, and users are not concerned with design rationales—they simply expect the product to perform reliably. By balancing concept with
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Originally published on Creative Bloq on 2/22/2026