Liu Pingyun, chief executive of the team that designed one of the mascots for the Beijing Winter Olympics, worked on the project while he was studying for a PhD at the Macau University of Science and Technology (MUST).
The recently concluded Winter Olympics had two mascots, namely Bing Dwen Dwen and Shuey Rhon Rhon. Liu took part in the design of Bing Dwen Dwen.
At a seminar celebrating the 22nd Anniversary of MUST, the designer revealed that the 10 months during which Bing Dwen Dwen was developed overlapped his studies, making the mascot closely connected with MUST.
Liu is still pursuing his PhD at the institution.
Inspired by the national treasure of the panda, Bing Dwen Dwen is the personified integration of the animal and a piece of crystal. The outer layer of its head took its inspiration from the helmet, a common piece of equipment in winter sports.
The “window of the helmet,” meanwhile, is a representation of a main venue in the Winter Olympics, the National Speed Skating Oval. The red heart in its left palm symbolizes the Chinese people welcoming participants.
As Liu explained, the core concept of the mascot started with the formulation and communication of the national image. The design team then added details to suit the symbolism, presentation and goals of the games.
To support his participation in the design process, Liu analyzed a research paper on the visual designs of the Beijing Winter Olympics.
Liu revealed that Chinese thinking and philosophies also played a major role in the design process.
He said that the philosophical values of “not taking credit for contributions” and “making selfless contributions” were key to the conception of the mascot. He stressed that these values stimulated and fortified the team when faced with difficulties and challenges.
Liu said that his bravery in overcoming difficulties and achieving innovations are the embodiment of the values of MUST. AL
