Think I've mentioned this before but way back in 2004 my parents surprised me for my 18th birthday by writing to him and he very kindly sent me a copy of his book, 'Brand identity for television with knobs on' which to this day I still keep in the envelope it came in so that it won't get damaged. One of the best birthday presents I ever had. RIP Lambie-Nairn, a graphic design genius!
Quite possibly the greatest rebranding of any organisation in the UK. Outstanding job from Martin and his team. The fact the that BBC logo lasted across 4 decades and they still use the technical principles of the design are the ultimate compliment. Great video.
Excellent video, Adam. This video reminds me of what the legendary designer Saul Bass did when he presented his proposal for the Bell System logo in the 60s (that video is available in YT). Martin Lambie-Nairn was capable of presenting his case in an engaging and concrete manner. No wonder he was a legend on his area of skill.
I absolutely adore this video. Idents in general, particularly that of BBC, have always scratched an itch in my brain. Thanks so much for this, you’ve made this oddling very happy!
This is a very interesting vid. I knew of Martin’s work before his death in 2021, however I never knew that this vid of Martin speaking about reinventing the new BBC logo in 1996. Quite possibly one of the most iconic logo up until 2021.
As a graphic designer who works with type every day, I found this both very interesting and informative. Perhaps this should be referenced when certain tabloid journalists criticise the BBC for "wasting money" on their logo rebranding.
Brilliant video with some great insights into the processed behind rebrands. I miss the 80s/90s BBC logo, but can't argue with Martin's reasoning. It's solid.
A superb tribute - great work. Unfortunately, your video demonstrates - for example at 16:58 - that the BBC did *not* make full use of the concept. By the time BBC FOUR and BBC THREE (as I think one is supposed to type them) launched, the TV channels had moved the text into boxes - in the centre of the screen for FOUR and in a corner for ONE, TWO and THREE - the BBC logo was above the channel name, and in the case of THREE that word itself didn't even use standard Gill Sans. Within (I think) an even shorter space of time, the radio networks had dumped the original "channel property" (as Martin describes it here), which tended to be just a pair of colours and some shapes or patterns, and gone back to logos with numerals that looked a heck of a lot like revamped versions of the ones he describes at 4:38. So... it was a great concept, but the personalities given to almost all the national broadcast channels, with the exception of BBC TWO, just weren't quite strong enough, and so were "improved upon", weakening the corporate look in the process. A shame... and I hesitate to be critical of this genius piece of work at all... but a reality that it just wasn't *quite* as successful as it could have been. I guess it paved the way for the early 2020s rebrand, which, though I don't actually much like it, may turn out to have finished the job that Martin and his team started so incredibly.
Thank you for posting Adam. I had the fun (and the challenge) of being one of the on-air BBC TV presentation announcers during the 90s. The 'brand' of the voices of the TV channels were also reviewed and chosen to reflect the 'personality' of the channel... I was selected as a peak time BBC 2 voice. Which suited me as I preferred the programmes on BBC 2!
Martin Lambie-Nairn has always been a design hero of mine - but who knew he could give Jonathan Meades a run for his money with his presenting skills? What a great video ❤
Man, do I have a lot to say. First of all... Love this film. Such a great showcase on why the BBC channels & services looked the way they did in the tail end of the 90s. I do sort of prefer the 1991 BBC logo (even though I didn't grow up with it) I tend to favour logos that contain a lot of detail, colour, texturing etc. which I why I give some modern company logos a hard time, but this film does put in some perspective on how that sometimes doesn't work & I will admit, when Martin showed all the different logos from 14:00 - 14:14, it does look cleaner & probably didn't cost nearly as much as the previous ones. The logos may be seen as downgrades to some, but hey! BBC One had the "Globe Balloon" & BBC Two had the "2s" so the channels still had plenty of personality, like Martin said. For example, I think the CBBC logo at the time looks pretty bad, but the idents & in-vision links made up for it, IMO. As for the Gill Sans font, sweet mother of God! I did not realise Eric Gill was so psychotic! That definitely gave me a whole new perspective on why the BBC spent all that money to update their logo in 2021. Finally, All respects to Martin Lambie Nairn. R.I.P.
Martin was a master in his craft. Growing up it was always the BBC and Channel 4 that held an irresistible fascination to me and part of that was the logo and branding.
Thank You Adam. I think that video must be one of the most moving videos you have EVER made. We all take the history of the television ident logo of a broadcasting channel for granted, because we ( the general public) see it as just a natural process of what Television Broadcasting Channels must do, as part of the process of natural broadcasting evolution for the general public. But as you have done here…there are those certain individuals that we all take for granted who really should be recognised and acknowledged for the incredible work they have done in history, in branding and re-branding a broadcasting channel throughout a very long period of time. Again…Thank You Sir.
I remember the rebrand quite clearly - I was 10 in 1997 and noticed how everything changed to being so clean, clear and consistent. It was obviously successful as it lasted such a long time. Thanks for sharing what Martin did.
An absolute genius in the world of TV and branding - and interesting seeing how his theories and processes still inspire and advise channel's branding today. I wonder what he'd make of the new blocks and Reith typeface, especially with the four pillars mentioned earlier. That, and even the positioning of the new blocks (at the top centre of the screen with the brands at bottom centre) I'm sure he'd support especially in the Beebs aims in the 'new' digital age. Absolutely bang on with his crit and how the logo forms a foundation with the marketing - or, as we all know, idents - stood to shout out the personality. Fantastic video Adam!
Easily one of my favorite rebrands I've learned of. I also loved the 5-Channel TV design he applied for British Satellite Broadcasting, the Rhythm and Movement idents on BBC and the Twos (obviously)
The incredible thing for me now, is the corporate logo for RTE in Ireland preceded, spanned and outlasted the whole life of that BBC look. It's soon to turn 30, debuting in 1995. Not designed by Lambie-Nairn, but feels like it was, just because it's lasted that long. Showing how his is the standard by which others are judged.
Makes me want to do a video on longest-lasting logos of TV networks around the world. If you allow for partial reversions, Channel Nine in Australia has had the same one since before colour TV. American networks of course love the stained oak and mahagony vibe of their old logos, or should I say shag pile orange carpet vibes … the ABC logo is so ’70s that it defied anyone to change it and it’s probably come into vogue and out again while standing still, like a stopped clock 12 hours later.
@@whophd “…the ABC logo is so ’70s that it defied anyone to change it…” Classic, perhaps, because it was ahead of its time, being “so ’70s” yet (re)designed by graphic designer Paul Rand in 1962 and debuting on-air in October of that year.
@@whophdABC Australia (the government owned network not related to the US one) has had virtually the same logo. (upgrades in font and style) since 1965. Thats 59 years. It's based on a waveform of a broadcast oscillation.
Sorry, but I detest it! Fwiw, I'm not a particular fan of Lambie~Nairn's BBC logo either, but I don't positively hate it the way I hate the RTE one. I actually liked the one RTE used in the '60's and '70's, but given the far too cosy and unhealthy connection between the Roman Catholic Church and the Irish State in those years, it was probably wise to move away from a station logo which featured a St. Brigid's Cross! It's probably a bit unfair to knock a 'blandly corporate' entity to have a blandly corporate looking trademark, but that logo that RTE brought in in the '90's has the same sort of vibe you get from the 'art' and livery one sees in the sort of budget hotel chain where you might find Alan Partridge in residence! At least the RTE station idents, logos etc have the one major plus of not actually looking like a puddle of sick, unlike their cross~border commercial counterpart, UTV!
Martin Lambie-Nairn’s work was well influential to how television indents could be iconic from the 4 for channel four in the uk to the BBC rebrand in 96. Lambie-Nairn will always be influential even after his passing in 2021
I remember being absolutely livid as a teenager when they made this change, thinking it was lazy and stupid and that anyone could have come up with it. Watching this has made me see it in a very different way. Thank you!
There IS something special about Martin Lambie-Nairn - he's one of the most creative persons in the world. Yes, I've ripped the "there is something special about..." phrase from the "Making of the BBC Two idents" episode of the show "How Do They Do That?" where Lambie-Nairn says what's special about the Two he has in his hands. Thank you, Martin Lambie-Nairn.
I've literally been looking for that digital is the future advert with Angus deayton and Richard Wilson talking to each other for years but never found it! Haha. How did you?!?? Thank you. That's literally the first time I've seen that since about 1998/99! A childhood memory I thought everyone else had forgotten haha
When the UKTV network launched in 1997 the branding was also designed by Martin Lambie-Nairn and the branding was similar to the BBC look at the time. Even the menus and trailers were the same as the BBC channels.
it was partly owned by the BBC at that time, and was essentially intended as a new commercial arm of the BBC. Of course, it didn’t develop in that way in the end, and they ended up selling off their stake.
@@kaitlyn__L It was such a good network in Australia until all the content (and budget), along with the HD spectrum, got pinched by BBC First and the lovely mainstream quality service got replaced by 1.5 genres of period murder mysteries, and the UKTV channel just went into the gutter with repeats.
@@kaitlyn__L Correction: UKTV is still owned by the BBC. Its wholly owned by the BBC's commercial arm. The BBC sold thier stake of several UKTV channels to Discovery, retaining the UKTV brand and several channels. Gold, Dave, Yesterday, W, Eden, Alibi and Drama. Discovery purchased Good Food, Home, and Really.
Love this! I’m a huge fan of the 2s idents in 1990s (enjoyed your video ranking those too!) and while I don’t like the 2000s BBC idents as much - even though they remind me of some good times - the logo definitely worked and still does. RIP Martin Lambie-Nairn.
I can hardly imagine how challenging it must have been for him to defend this in a boardroom where executives were expecting a flashy refresh for the digital age, while also justifying his fee.
About Gill Sans: if you could sum up a England with just a typeface it would be Gill Sans. Same goes for Switzerland with Helvetica, the Netherlands with Arial🤮, Germany with Futura, Hong Kong with Myriad Pro and microsoft with Comic Sans.
Martian Lambie-Nairn was a really brilliant designer and maker of idents. He knew how to make the idents and logos we know them today and how he made the BBC work for the 21st century.
Martin was also integral with creating Spitting image, always saying in the credits "based on a lunch with Martin" There were even sketches in the 90s making fun of his BBC 2 idents, like the 2 refusing to act so they resorted to Tony Slattery who gets covered in cyan paint
4 grand for a logo of license fee payers money, just as bad as RTE here in Ireland, we've just had a year of one financial cock up after another resulting in mass non payment of the license fee. They need to be told who pays their wages. As for logos you'd make some better ones by dipping a spider in some coloured ink and letting it walk across a sheet of paper. A lot less than 4 grand. Three is the magic number TV3 here used that when it started in 98. Love this stuff thanks.
We used to have bets on which dancers would be on the bbc1 idents before a show started. I remember a French and saunders Christmas special had a spoof of the women on ribbons falling on the floor before it started
At the end of the video I see him wearing a Blue Peter badge. That ident was one he didn't invent. That was created by Tony Hart from Vision On. Very good and interesting video.
While fully understanding the reasons for the 'new' logo, I much prefer the preceding one, and though I acknowledge its shortcomings, nothing can shake me out of that preference!
I am usually a cynic about expensive corporate rebranding but I make an exception for this. It looks so sharp and fresh for 27 years old. Perhaps it always will! I am sad they changed it, I heard (probably from you!) that the Monotype licensing fees were significant
is this film available to view in full anywhere? Perhaps on the Internet Archive? I know you said it’s quite short, so I feel like we’ve seen the most of it already, but it’s the kind of thing I find quite cosy to watch sometimes.
This is the first time I’ve seen him but Martin Lambie-Nairn’s voice, delivery and even appearance are shockingly similar to the RUclipsr Dave Huxtable.
His logo designs for the short-lived BSB (British Satellite Broadcasting) 5 channel satellite system in 1990 were beautiful and stylish. The video at 1.36 gave a short glimpse of his design for the BSB Galaxy channel's 'Galaxy Club' logo. Search out the other BSB logos if you've never seen them.
Fun fact: in Italy, Gill Sans in its Italic form was used for the logo of the Fininvest and later Mediaset broadcast group founded by Silvio Berlusconi. Who was also a bit of a nonce.
14:20 “it all looks like it came from the same organisation” - can I offer a counterpoint out of left field? Making the core “BBC” brand so prominent might have had an unintended side-effect: It paints a big juicy target for the BBC’s enemies. Previously, some (not all) BBC properties were more well known for their own identities, at least as much or more than their BBC identity. Radio 1,2,3,4 etc, 5 Live, and probably others since forgotten like “Ceefax”. Why does this matter? Well when the BBC has to go begging bowl in hand every few years, in a system that has to be that way because every alternative is worse, its fortunes rise and fall on the reputation of a single brand. When all the properties are labelled - prominently! - with the core brand, they can’t escape the rise or fall of the central reputation. People can’t talk about Radio 1 anymore without talking about “the BBC” and adding their thoughts of “the BBC” to the discussion - but they used to? It’s not all-or-nothing but it has changed by enough, that it impacts public support just enough, that it hurts political support just enough, that it cuts inflation funding enough to make cutbacks harsher. Having multiple reputations via multiple identities isn’t necessarily a bad thing - that’s my premise, and that’s despite how much I love this rebranding. I was there 25 years ago cheering on Lambie-Nairn with these changes (and ESPECIALLY the News graphics and the music by David Lowe). BBC is big enough to be decentralised, and big enough to have, if not need, multiple reputations. Don’t let the agonies of one department - however unjustified those fights are - drag down the rest of the corporation.
The Gill statue on front of Broadcasting house has been covered up, and that whole entrance closed for the last two years however. No idea if they are repairing statue or removing. Either way it’s taking a strangely long amount of time.
The 1997 logo was probably one of my favourite logos of all time. It just is so timeless as opposed to the dated nature of the others. It literally could have been made in 1922 or 2022. Changing it to the latest logo was the biggest waste of tax-payer money for years. Great video!
Ironically, they were originally a part of the Tracey Ullman Show, which the BBC cut from the show to fit it into a 25 minute slot. So they could have had the original series for no extra cost if they had left it as part of the Ullman Show, but that is the BBC for you.
Nowadays there’s a modern trent to unite all the brands, and the 2021 BBC logo does that. I loved LMB’s work and I don’t think anything will better it for generations. But the current BBC branding is just fine.
What a great video and little treasure there from the bbc.. I didn’t need to jump on the Hub to find the other meaning for BBC Tho my eyes have ventured 😮😂
7:31 Though to be fair, it's kinda no different compared to the ABC abbreviation being commonly used, like for example, I'm an Australian and while I know many Americans recognize ABC as the American Broadcasting Company, the American network owned by Disney, but in Australia, we know ABC as the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, the Aussie equivalent of the BBC. I also hear that an American organization that controls alcohol beverages also goes by ABC, but to them it stands for Alcohol Beverage Control. I'm sure there's more examples around the world of others using the letters ABC.
He also relaunched BBC News in 2000 and brought BBC News 24 (BBC News Channel) and BBC World News as part of the digital transformation and by that time, the BBC adopted the boxes not only for news but for BBC Radio, their digital channels, and everything else.
Had the pleasure of working with Martin. And spent many lunches discussing ideas over a glass of red. He was a legend. Thanks for creating the video.
How long have you been working at BBC?
Think I've mentioned this before but way back in 2004 my parents surprised me for my 18th birthday by writing to him and he very kindly sent me a copy of his book, 'Brand identity for television with knobs on' which to this day I still keep in the envelope it came in so that it won't get damaged. One of the best birthday presents I ever had. RIP Lambie-Nairn, a graphic design genius!
I was fortunate enough to interview Martin in 2005 for my university dissertation. He also sent me a copy of his book.
if i may ask, what course were you studying?
Martin injecting comedy into that report for a load of suits is very, very funny. Great timing.
Quite possibly the greatest rebranding of any organisation in the UK. Outstanding job from Martin and his team.
The fact the that BBC logo lasted across 4 decades and they still use the technical principles of the design are the ultimate compliment. Great video.
Excellent video, Adam. This video reminds me of what the legendary designer Saul Bass did when he presented his proposal for the Bell System logo in the 60s (that video is available in YT). Martin Lambie-Nairn was capable of presenting his case in an engaging and concrete manner. No wonder he was a legend on his area of skill.
Thank you very much!
That’s still a funny and engaging video today! No surprise that many of his logo designs are still in use today, only slightly altered
I absolutely adore this video. Idents in general, particularly that of BBC, have always scratched an itch in my brain. Thanks so much for this, you’ve made this oddling very happy!
This is a very interesting vid. I knew of Martin’s work before his death in 2021, however I never knew that this vid of Martin speaking about reinventing the new BBC logo in 1996. Quite possibly one of the most iconic logo up until 2021.
The new one is dreadful in comparison
@handsoffmycactus2958 the new one that's barely any different to the last? That one?
Even from here in the U.S., I admire him and his work. He was a designer/brand GENIUS. Not just smarts, a total GENIUS.
As a graphic designer who works with type every day, I found this both very interesting and informative. Perhaps this should be referenced when certain tabloid journalists criticise the BBC for "wasting money" on their logo rebranding.
So much nostalgia here, I don’t even watch TV anymore mainly RUclips, Netflix. But this brings me back to my early teenage years in the 2000s
Fascinating video, Adam, I really enjoyed it. Martin Lambie-Nairn was a very clever designer since the BBC logos are timeless.
Thank you verymuch!
Great tribute at the end Adam, really fantastic touches mate. Thanks for this great insight bud 👏🏻
My pleasure, glad you enjoyed it!
Brilliant video with some great insights into the processed behind rebrands. I miss the 80s/90s BBC logo, but can't argue with Martin's reasoning. It's solid.
A superb tribute - great work. Unfortunately, your video demonstrates - for example at 16:58 - that the BBC did *not* make full use of the concept. By the time BBC FOUR and BBC THREE (as I think one is supposed to type them) launched, the TV channels had moved the text into boxes - in the centre of the screen for FOUR and in a corner for ONE, TWO and THREE - the BBC logo was above the channel name, and in the case of THREE that word itself didn't even use standard Gill Sans. Within (I think) an even shorter space of time, the radio networks had dumped the original "channel property" (as Martin describes it here), which tended to be just a pair of colours and some shapes or patterns, and gone back to logos with numerals that looked a heck of a lot like revamped versions of the ones he describes at 4:38. So... it was a great concept, but the personalities given to almost all the national broadcast channels, with the exception of BBC TWO, just weren't quite strong enough, and so were "improved upon", weakening the corporate look in the process. A shame... and I hesitate to be critical of this genius piece of work at all... but a reality that it just wasn't *quite* as successful as it could have been. I guess it paved the way for the early 2020s rebrand, which, though I don't actually much like it, may turn out to have finished the job that Martin and his team started so incredibly.
this channel is my exact niche so I'm very glad it was finally recommended to me!
Excellent video. I've always loved typography, logos and brand design.
Thank you!
What a beautiful film and tribute. Thank you.
Thank you for posting Adam.
I had the fun (and the challenge) of being one of the on-air BBC TV presentation announcers during the 90s.
The 'brand' of the voices of the TV channels were also reviewed and chosen to reflect the 'personality' of the channel... I was selected as a peak time BBC 2 voice. Which suited me as I preferred the programmes on BBC 2!
Wow. Lambie is just a king at design criticism.
Martin Lambie-Nairn has always been a design hero of mine - but who knew he could give Jonathan Meades a run for his money with his presenting skills? What a great video ❤
as a graphic designer with an interest in strategic design and visual identities, this was a super interesting watch! thanks for making it!
Man, do I have a lot to say.
First of all... Love this film. Such a great showcase on why the BBC channels & services looked the way they did in the tail end of the 90s.
I do sort of prefer the 1991 BBC logo (even though I didn't grow up with it) I tend to favour logos that contain a lot of detail, colour, texturing etc. which I why I give some modern company logos a hard time, but this film does put in some perspective on how that sometimes doesn't work & I will admit, when Martin showed all the different logos from 14:00 - 14:14, it does look cleaner & probably didn't cost nearly as much as the previous ones.
The logos may be seen as downgrades to some, but hey! BBC One had the "Globe Balloon" & BBC Two had the "2s" so the channels still had plenty of personality, like Martin said. For example, I think the CBBC logo at the time looks pretty bad, but the idents & in-vision links made up for it, IMO.
As for the Gill Sans font, sweet mother of God! I did not realise Eric Gill was so psychotic! That definitely gave me a whole new perspective on why the BBC spent all that money to update their logo in 2021.
Finally, All respects to Martin Lambie Nairn. R.I.P.
Martin was a master in his craft. Growing up it was always the BBC and Channel 4 that held an irresistible fascination to me and part of that was the logo and branding.
Thank You Adam.
I think that video must be one of the most moving videos you have EVER made.
We all take the history of the television ident logo of a broadcasting channel for granted, because we ( the general public) see it as just a natural process of what Television Broadcasting Channels must do, as part of the process of natural broadcasting evolution for the general public.
But as you have done here…there are those certain individuals that we all take for granted who really should be recognised and acknowledged for the incredible work they have done in history, in branding and re-branding a broadcasting channel throughout a very long period of time.
Again…Thank You Sir.
Great Video. Martin was such a character. The 2’s were so iconic.
I remember the rebrand quite clearly - I was 10 in 1997 and noticed how everything changed to being so clean, clear and consistent. It was obviously successful as it lasted such a long time.
Thanks for sharing what Martin did.
I liked the hot air balloon ident for BBC one in the 00’s. The 90’s/00’s BBC TV/radio idents and music to go with the idents was great
An absolute genius in the world of TV and branding - and interesting seeing how his theories and processes still inspire and advise channel's branding today.
I wonder what he'd make of the new blocks and Reith typeface, especially with the four pillars mentioned earlier. That, and even the positioning of the new blocks (at the top centre of the screen with the brands at bottom centre) I'm sure he'd support especially in the Beebs aims in the 'new' digital age.
Absolutely bang on with his crit and how the logo forms a foundation with the marketing - or, as we all know, idents - stood to shout out the personality.
Fantastic video Adam!
Thank you Fernand! Love your work, particularly as a fellow Eurovision fan! ✨️
Easily one of my favorite rebrands I've learned of. I also loved the 5-Channel TV design he applied for British Satellite Broadcasting, the Rhythm and Movement idents on BBC and the Twos (obviously)
The incredible thing for me now, is the corporate logo for RTE in Ireland preceded, spanned and outlasted the whole life of that BBC look. It's soon to turn 30, debuting in 1995. Not designed by Lambie-Nairn, but feels like it was, just because it's lasted that long. Showing how his is the standard by which others are judged.
Makes me want to do a video on longest-lasting logos of TV networks around the world. If you allow for partial reversions, Channel Nine in Australia has had the same one since before colour TV. American networks of course love the stained oak and mahagony vibe of their old logos, or should I say shag pile orange carpet vibes … the ABC logo is so ’70s that it defied anyone to change it and it’s probably come into vogue and out again while standing still, like a stopped clock 12 hours later.
@@whophd “…the ABC logo is so ’70s that it defied anyone to change it…”
Classic, perhaps, because it was ahead of its time, being “so ’70s” yet (re)designed by graphic designer Paul Rand in 1962 and debuting on-air in October of that year.
@@jeff__w Haha yes I realised while writing that that it wasn't even ’70s but just helped define the era. Trope maker!
@@whophdABC Australia (the government owned network not related to the US one) has had virtually the same logo. (upgrades in font and style) since 1965. Thats 59 years. It's based on a waveform of a broadcast oscillation.
Sorry, but I detest it! Fwiw, I'm not a particular fan of Lambie~Nairn's BBC logo either, but I don't positively hate it the way I hate the RTE one. I actually liked the one RTE used in the '60's and '70's, but given the far too cosy and unhealthy connection between the Roman Catholic Church and the Irish State in those years, it was probably wise to move away from a station logo which featured a St. Brigid's Cross!
It's probably a bit unfair to knock a 'blandly corporate' entity to have a blandly corporate looking trademark, but that logo that RTE brought in in the '90's has the same sort of vibe you get from the 'art' and livery one sees in the sort of budget hotel chain where you might find Alan Partridge in residence! At least the RTE station idents, logos etc have the one major plus of not actually looking like a puddle of sick, unlike their cross~border commercial counterpart, UTV!
Martin Lambie-Nairn’s work was well influential to how television indents could be iconic from the 4 for channel four in the uk to the BBC rebrand in 96. Lambie-Nairn will always be influential even after his passing in 2021
RIP Martin Lambie-Nairn. He also helped to devise Spitting Image.
Love this Adam! A doc on the life of Martin Lambie-Nairn!
I remember being absolutely livid as a teenager when they made this change, thinking it was lazy and stupid and that anyone could have come up with it. Watching this has made me see it in a very different way. Thank you!
Great video as always Adam. I have to admit though I did not know about the other uses of the letters BBC. I looked it up. Oh dear!
There IS something special about Martin Lambie-Nairn - he's one of the most creative persons in the world.
Yes, I've ripped the "there is something special about..." phrase from the "Making of the BBC Two idents" episode of the show "How Do They Do That?" where Lambie-Nairn says what's special about the Two he has in his hands.
Thank you, Martin Lambie-Nairn.
RIP Martin, thanks for a memorable logo.
Gotta admit, this along with the BBC News beats, made the early 2000s memorable.
I've literally been looking for that digital is the future advert with Angus deayton and Richard Wilson talking to each other for years but never found it! Haha. How did you?!?? Thank you. That's literally the first time I've seen that since about 1998/99! A childhood memory I thought everyone else had forgotten haha
When the UKTV network launched in 1997 the branding was also designed by Martin Lambie-Nairn and the branding was similar to the BBC look at the time. Even the menus and trailers were the same as the BBC channels.
it was partly owned by the BBC at that time, and was essentially intended as a new commercial arm of the BBC. Of course, it didn’t develop in that way in the end, and they ended up selling off their stake.
@@kaitlyn__L It was such a good network in Australia until all the content (and budget), along with the HD spectrum, got pinched by BBC First and the lovely mainstream quality service got replaced by 1.5 genres of period murder mysteries, and the UKTV channel just went into the gutter with repeats.
@@kaitlyn__L Correction: UKTV is still owned by the BBC. Its wholly owned by the BBC's commercial arm. The BBC sold thier stake of several UKTV channels to Discovery, retaining the UKTV brand and several channels. Gold, Dave, Yesterday, W, Eden, Alibi and Drama. Discovery purchased Good Food, Home, and Really.
@@itsrickyschannel. I thought they sold it off to Flextech. Did they sell that back?
17:31 Doctor Who Production Office with the new logo design in 1997?
Love this! I’m a huge fan of the 2s idents in 1990s (enjoyed your video ranking those too!) and while I don’t like the 2000s BBC idents as much - even though they remind me of some good times - the logo definitely worked and still does.
RIP Martin Lambie-Nairn.
very interesting channel, thanks for this.
I can hardly imagine how challenging it must have been for him to defend this in a boardroom where executives were expecting a flashy refresh for the digital age, while also justifying his fee.
This video is what RUclips was made for. Thanks!
No. RUclips was not designed for this. It was designed to be a dating site. If you don't believe me, look it up.
The 1997 logo was definitely the best BBC logo.
Yep!
@@Idk974-s7g⚒️
1997 change was a breath of fresh air and timeless in its design.
The 1990 to 1997 and the 1997 to 2021 logos are very nostalgic to me. R.I.P Martin Lambie- Narin.
About Gill Sans: if you could sum up a England with just a typeface it would be Gill Sans.
Same goes for Switzerland with Helvetica, the Netherlands with Arial🤮, Germany with Futura, Hong Kong with Myriad Pro and microsoft with Comic Sans.
I didn't realise "Microsoft" was a country? 😂 (Although arguably it has the GDP of a country)
Martian Lambie-Nairn was a really brilliant designer and maker of idents. He knew how to make the idents and logos we know them today and how he made the BBC work for the 21st century.
Interesting, thank you for sharing.
Martin was also integral with creating Spitting image, always saying in the credits "based on a lunch with Martin"
There were even sketches in the 90s making fun of his BBC 2 idents, like the 2 refusing to act so they resorted to Tony Slattery who gets covered in cyan paint
A wonderful and very interesting tribute
I suppose this is why BBC News has become more readibly available to us Americans via streaming lately.
4 grand for a logo of license fee payers money, just as bad as RTE here in Ireland, we've just had a year of one financial cock up after another resulting in mass non payment of the license fee. They need to be told who pays their wages. As for logos you'd make some better ones by dipping a spider in some coloured ink and letting it walk across a sheet of paper. A lot less than 4 grand. Three is the magic number TV3 here used that when it started in 98. Love this stuff thanks.
excellent
Fantastic tribute
We used to have bets on which dancers would be on the bbc1 idents before a show started.
I remember a French and saunders Christmas special had a spoof of the women on ribbons falling on the floor before it started
Lambie-Nairn was the Jony Ive of television!
What a super video!
Thank you!
I think the blue red and green underline was the best logo, and is such a shame it is no longer used
At the end of the video I see him wearing a Blue Peter badge.
That ident was one he didn't invent. That was created by Tony Hart from Vision On.
Very good and interesting video.
I love to watch these kind of videos. I was always thinking who created BBC logo, one of the best in the world.
Martin also did the original opening titles for Play Your Cards Right in the 1980s.
the original music for the Channel 4 indent was written by David Dundas who made a fortune as that tune was heard before every programme for years
And then he made music for both of the ITV 90's generic looks.
While fully understanding the reasons for the 'new' logo, I much prefer the preceding one, and though I acknowledge its shortcomings, nothing can shake me out of that preference!
I am usually a cynic about expensive corporate rebranding but I make an exception for this. It looks so sharp and fresh for 27 years old. Perhaps it always will! I am sad they changed it, I heard (probably from you!) that the Monotype licensing fees were significant
is this film available to view in full anywhere? Perhaps on the Internet Archive? I know you said it’s quite short, so I feel like we’ve seen the most of it already, but it’s the kind of thing I find quite cosy to watch sometimes.
This is the first time I’ve seen him but Martin Lambie-Nairn’s voice, delivery and even appearance are shockingly similar to the RUclipsr Dave Huxtable.
This is a sublime observation. Indeed!
he also did s4c idents in the 90s
Incredible branding
I remember when the BBC logo had a small first "B" then a large centre "B" then a small "C" fitted within a circle !
Yes I am very old....🤣
His logo designs for the short-lived BSB (British Satellite Broadcasting) 5 channel satellite system in 1990 were beautiful and stylish. The video at 1.36 gave a short glimpse of his design for the BSB Galaxy channel's 'Galaxy Club' logo. Search out the other BSB logos if you've never seen them.
BBC Horizons and BBC Arena became UK Horizons and UK Arena due to the channels plan of being commercial, so they had to drop the BBC logo.
Sort of like “UKTV” starting off with that BBC logo vibe
@@whophd Yes, UKTVs 1997 branding was done by Lambie-Nairn and thus reused the 1997 BBC graphics with the exception of the BBC blocks.
Fun fact: in Italy, Gill Sans in its Italic form was used for the logo of the Fininvest and later Mediaset broadcast group founded by Silvio Berlusconi.
Who was also a bit of a nonce.
13:32 "it would’ve have lost it's BBCness"
That’s true the boxes are the best 👌⬛️⬛️⬛️
Fascinating
14:20 “it all looks like it came from the same organisation” - can I offer a counterpoint out of left field? Making the core “BBC” brand so prominent might have had an unintended side-effect: It paints a big juicy target for the BBC’s enemies. Previously, some (not all) BBC properties were more well known for their own identities, at least as much or more than their BBC identity. Radio 1,2,3,4 etc, 5 Live, and probably others since forgotten like “Ceefax”.
Why does this matter? Well when the BBC has to go begging bowl in hand every few years, in a system that has to be that way because every alternative is worse, its fortunes rise and fall on the reputation of a single brand. When all the properties are labelled - prominently! - with the core brand, they can’t escape the rise or fall of the central reputation. People can’t talk about Radio 1 anymore without talking about “the BBC” and adding their thoughts of “the BBC” to the discussion - but they used to? It’s not all-or-nothing but it has changed by enough, that it impacts public support just enough, that it hurts political support just enough, that it cuts inflation funding enough to make cutbacks harsher.
Having multiple reputations via multiple identities isn’t necessarily a bad thing - that’s my premise, and that’s despite how much I love this rebranding. I was there 25 years ago cheering on Lambie-Nairn with these changes (and ESPECIALLY the News graphics and the music by David Lowe).
BBC is big enough to be decentralised, and big enough to have, if not need, multiple reputations. Don’t let the agonies of one department - however unjustified those fights are - drag down the rest of the corporation.
The Gill statue on front of Broadcasting house has been covered up, and that whole entrance closed for the last two years however. No idea if they are repairing statue or removing. Either way it’s taking a strangely long amount of time.
That's interesting it's been covered up... seems like they're leaving it in limbo?
The 1997 logo was probably one of my favourite logos of all time. It just is so timeless as opposed to the dated nature of the others. It literally could have been made in 1922 or 2022. Changing it to the latest logo was the biggest waste of tax-payer money for years. Great video!
Wow I never knew “The Simpsons” were once on the BBC
Yup, BBC1 Saturday nights in 1996 to 97 then weeknights on BBC2 from 1997 to 2004.
Oh Jesus I'm old
@@stickytapenrust6869 I guess seeing them on Sky every day it’s hard to ever remember them on the BBC
Ironically, they were originally a part of the Tracey Ullman Show, which the BBC cut from the show to fit it into a 25 minute slot. So they could have had the original series for no extra cost if they had left it as part of the Ullman Show, but that is the BBC for you.
I feel so old reading this! 😭
7:40 I am not an English native speaker. I thought BBC was slang for Breasts, Butt and Cunt. I searched it and I got disappointed...
The Batwings looks like a Kirby Final Boss
Dude, wait this man Eric Gill was legendary artist before the fonts!! ❤❤
Nowadays there’s a modern trent to unite all the brands, and the 2021 BBC logo does that. I loved LMB’s work and I don’t think anything will better it for generations. But the current BBC branding is just fine.
He was at the two biggest reinventions, really, but 1997 was the really big one.
I always saw the 1991 update as the biggest change. Channel ID was VERY old fashioned before then.
🫶 inspiring!
I still miss him and the idents, but he’s the great father of idents.
20:25 McLeod is pronounced like McLoud.
What a great video and little treasure there from the bbc..
I didn’t need to jump on the Hub to find the other meaning for BBC
Tho my eyes have ventured 😮😂
7:31 Though to be fair, it's kinda no different compared to the ABC abbreviation being commonly used, like for example, I'm an Australian and while I know many Americans recognize ABC as the American Broadcasting Company, the American network owned by Disney, but in Australia, we know ABC as the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, the Aussie equivalent of the BBC. I also hear that an American organization that controls alcohol beverages also goes by ABC, but to them it stands for Alcohol Beverage Control. I'm sure there's more examples around the world of others using the letters ABC.
Martyn ive long been interested in presenttion idents and logos on tv and attempted to sketch them yers ago
Am I the only one that kept seeing so much of Jack Dee in Martin?!
7:32 Goodness 😭 in america if you even say bbc in public you're gonna have to be specific as hell.
The inclusion by Adam of an alternative Gen Z definition of ‘BBC’ is wholly irrelevant, and yet did give me a wry chuckle 😏
Wow. I thought you were going to say he just straightened the letters.
17:29 Don't pretend that they're not including Doctor Who as part of the BBC's essential output half way between Sylvester McCoy and RTD
What a guy
Martin did the GFX for the News at Nine in '88, one of his first works for The Beeb...
He also relaunched BBC News in 2000 and brought BBC News 24 (BBC News Channel) and BBC World News as part of the digital transformation and by that time, the BBC adopted the boxes not only for news but for BBC Radio, their digital channels, and everything else.