Designing the BBC
A History of Motion Graphics
Published on 6. February 2025
Book
Paperback/Softback
240 pages
978-1-350-38225-1 (ISBN)
Description
Designing the BBC is a compelling history of the groundbreaking work of the BBC's Television Graphic Design Department from 1954 to 2021.
Drawing on the unique content of the BBC Motion Graphics Archive and the first-hand perspectives of former BBC staff, this book provides a timely overview of more than 60 years of the BBC's innovative practice within motion graphics.
Former BBC staff and leading design and television studies scholars investigate the archive, bring cultural memories to life and reflect on the Graphic Design Department's lasting impact. They consider the graphic design of a range of TV genres, including household favourites such as Doctor Who; sports programming such as Grandstand and big sporting events like the Olympics; children's television including Grange Hill; popular science programmes such as Tomorrow's World; news output such as The Nine O'Clock News, Election Night specials, the weather and the channel idents of BBC 2 and BBC One.
Drawing on the unique content of the BBC Motion Graphics Archive and the first-hand perspectives of former BBC staff, this book provides a timely overview of more than 60 years of the BBC's innovative practice within motion graphics.
Former BBC staff and leading design and television studies scholars investigate the archive, bring cultural memories to life and reflect on the Graphic Design Department's lasting impact. They consider the graphic design of a range of TV genres, including household favourites such as Doctor Who; sports programming such as Grandstand and big sporting events like the Olympics; children's television including Grange Hill; popular science programmes such as Tomorrow's World; news output such as The Nine O'Clock News, Election Night specials, the weather and the channel idents of BBC 2 and BBC One.
Reviews / Votes
Designing the BBC presents detailed primary source accounts of their work from a historical perspective ... This last aspect of their study may be Designing the BBC's most important contribution to the emergence of motion graphics as a field worthy of historical and critical examination. * Screen Journal *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Target group
College/higher education
Illustrations
40 bw illus, 32 colour illus
Dimensions
Height: 189 mm
Width: 245 mm
Thickness: 19 mm
Weight
660 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-350-38225-1 (9781350382251)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Iain Macdonald is Associate Professor of Design at Maynooth University, Ireland. He is the author of Hybrid Practices in Moving Image Design (2016) and his research has been published in journals such as Visual Communication and the International Journal of Art and Design Education.
Paula Williams is Course Leader of Advertising and Brand Design at Ravensbourne University London, UK. She is an award-winning creative director who worked as part of the BBC's and RedBee Creative's brand team and, later, as co-founder of Wonder Creative. She is a founding member of the BBC Motion Graphics steering group, responsible for creating a permanent archive at Ravensbourne University.
Paula Williams is Course Leader of Advertising and Brand Design at Ravensbourne University London, UK. She is an award-winning creative director who worked as part of the BBC's and RedBee Creative's brand team and, later, as co-founder of Wonder Creative. She is a founding member of the BBC Motion Graphics steering group, responsible for creating a permanent archive at Ravensbourne University.
Content
Foreword - Bernard Lodge
Acknowledgements
Introduction - Iain Macdonald & Paula Williams
1. Branding the BBC: The Cultural and Creative Impact of Identity - Paula Williams & Charlie Mawer
2. Painting With Sound - Melissa Morton
3. Consistency or Change? Top of the Pops' Meandering Journey Towards a Sense of Self - Matthias Hillner
4. Blue Peter: 'Here's One I Made Earlier' - Iain Macdonald & Kevin Hill
5. A Play in Themselves: Drama Titles & Graphics - Iain Macdonald & Iain Greenway
6. Doctor Who: Motion Graphics For A Time Lord - Iain Macdonald
7. Global Circulations, National Traditions: BBC Motion Graphics and Canadian Television - Andrew Burke
8. The Old School Cool: Youth Culture & Multiculturalism in Pre-2000s Britain - O Haruna
Section II
9. No Width, No Speed. - Graham McCallum
10. A Hybrid Creator's Tool: The Introduction of Quantel Paintbox - Margaret Harvey
11. Drawn to Paintbox - Morgan Almeida
12. The Best Technique For The Job: Making The Right Choices For The Right Reasons - Liz Friedman
13. BBC OU: Moving Education Design from Analog to Digital - Haydon Young
14. Digital Pathfinders: The BBC Computer Graphics Workshop 1980 to 1987 - Bill Gardner
15. BBC Sport: Of Dash and Dare - Steven Aspinall
16. '...and now for the News': Television, Probably: The Age Of Cardboard - Brian Eley
17. Breakfast Time: To Infinity and Beyond - Terry Hylton
18. News 24/7 - Chyaz Buffett, Mark Chaudoir, Andy Davy, Ian Wormleighton, & Iain Macdonald
Epilogue
Appendix
Timeline
Index
Acknowledgements
Introduction - Iain Macdonald & Paula Williams
1. Branding the BBC: The Cultural and Creative Impact of Identity - Paula Williams & Charlie Mawer
2. Painting With Sound - Melissa Morton
3. Consistency or Change? Top of the Pops' Meandering Journey Towards a Sense of Self - Matthias Hillner
4. Blue Peter: 'Here's One I Made Earlier' - Iain Macdonald & Kevin Hill
5. A Play in Themselves: Drama Titles & Graphics - Iain Macdonald & Iain Greenway
6. Doctor Who: Motion Graphics For A Time Lord - Iain Macdonald
7. Global Circulations, National Traditions: BBC Motion Graphics and Canadian Television - Andrew Burke
8. The Old School Cool: Youth Culture & Multiculturalism in Pre-2000s Britain - O Haruna
Section II
9. No Width, No Speed. - Graham McCallum
10. A Hybrid Creator's Tool: The Introduction of Quantel Paintbox - Margaret Harvey
11. Drawn to Paintbox - Morgan Almeida
12. The Best Technique For The Job: Making The Right Choices For The Right Reasons - Liz Friedman
13. BBC OU: Moving Education Design from Analog to Digital - Haydon Young
14. Digital Pathfinders: The BBC Computer Graphics Workshop 1980 to 1987 - Bill Gardner
15. BBC Sport: Of Dash and Dare - Steven Aspinall
16. '...and now for the News': Television, Probably: The Age Of Cardboard - Brian Eley
17. Breakfast Time: To Infinity and Beyond - Terry Hylton
18. News 24/7 - Chyaz Buffett, Mark Chaudoir, Andy Davy, Ian Wormleighton, & Iain Macdonald
Epilogue
Appendix
Timeline
Index