Jonathan Currinn
The official logo of the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 has been revealed as well as the stage design. Each year, the host country designs a brand new logo including the slogan and concept which is then carried through to the stage design. For many years, we’ve seen the logo become an important theme when it comes to the stage design and this year it is no different.
The 2020 contest will be held in Rotterdam, Netherlands, and the logo showcases a wheel that incorporates each flag of the 41 competing countries. The logo works well with the stage concept and we can’t wait to see how they incorporate everything into the show.
The Eurovision Song Contest 2020 Logo
This interesting logo celebrates the 65 years that the Eurovision Song Contest has been going for, as well as each of the competing countries and the year that they debuted in the contest.
Taking inspiration from the previous logo designs from when the Netherlands hosted Eurovision in 1970, 1976, and 1980, the logo is an abstract data-driven vignette. The official video breaks down how the logo includes the flag colours of each country.
“This design follows the characteristics of Dutch Design: minimalistic, experimental and innovative. It tells a story, it’s colourful, festive and, not unimportantly, widely applicable,” says Sietse Bakker, Executive Producer Event of the Eurovision Song Contest 2020. “Coincidentally, the first Eurovision Song Contest was opened by the Netherlands in 1956, hence the timeline starts with the colours of the Dutch flag.”
Jon Ola Sand, Executive Supervisor of the Eurovision Song Contest for the European Broadcasting Union (EBU): “We are extremely pleased with the artwork for the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 that perfectly celebrates our 65-year heritage. The impactful design also encapsulates the event’s modern values of diversity and inclusivity and beautifully complements this year’s slogan ‘Open Up’”.
There were 11 Dutch agencies that took part in the design contest, and CLEVER°FRANKE came out on top with this design. They are a design agency that uses data to create interactive products and experiences. They’ve worked with the likes of Google, Warner Music Group, Redbull, and The New York Times.
The Eurovision Song Contest 2020 Stage Design
Once again, we have been totally impressed by the stage design for the Eurovision Song Contest. It’s one of the most integral parts of the show and it always manages to blow our minds with how incredible it looks. This stage design takes inspiration from the slogan, “Open Up”, and the typical flat Dutch landscape. It also brings back the Green Room to the arena – as, last year, the Green Room was in an adjoining building.
This year, Florian Wieder won the pitch to design the stage. This isn’t the first time he has designed the Eurovision stage, he also designed the stages in Düsseldorf 2011, Baku 2012, Vienna 2015, Kyiv 2017, Lisbon 2018, Tel Aviv 2019, and now Rotterdam 2020. His previous portfolio includes several editions of the MTV Awards, America’s Got Talent, Britain’s Got Talent, The Emmy Awards, and Austrian versions of Star Mania, Dancing With The Stars, Heroes of Tomorrow, and The Big Chance. He has also designed tour stages for the likes of Jennifer Lopez, Beyoncé, and U2.
Speaking about the design, Florian Wieder said: “The design shows the connection between the sky, the sea and the land. The horizon links these elements and that horizon will work as a window to open up the world of Eurovision 2020. The floor plan of the stage is inspired by the canals and bridges that connect land and water in the Netherlands. With this design, we want to bring the artists as close as possible to the audience.”
He continued with: “I was inspired by the unique characteristics of Dutch Design. Based on that, I wanted to create an unconventional, minimalist and modern concept for next year’s show. I am very happy that the Dutch public broadcaster has been so openminded and has enthusiastically embraced this design. As far as I’m concerned, this is a new chapter in stage design, a wish I have had for a long time.”
Sietse Bakker added: “The design is innovative, modest and functionally smart. This way we can create a completely different look for each of the 41 participating acts, opening and interval acts, and during the voting results. We’ll present an innovative stage design, grand in its simplicity and yet full of surprises. The designer has perfectly translated this wish into his design.”
He went on to talk about Florian Wieder, “While his experience is clearly reflected in this design, he knows how to surprise.”
The stage design will start being built in the first few weeks of April 2020 at the Rotterdam Ahoy.
The 2020 Eurovision Song Contest will be hosted at the Rotterdam Ahoy, Rotterdam, The Netherlands after Duncan Laurence won the 2019 contest with the song “Arcade”. The two Semi-Finals will take place on 12 May 2020 and 14 May 2020, with the Grand Final taking place on 16 May 2020. A total of 41 countries will compete in the contest.
