Sky News

So, Sky News has relaunched its graphics, and no-one seems to be entirely satisfied by them. They seem overly plastic for my tastes, and the effects a little unconvincing at times. However my biggest disappointment is the lack of imagination in terms of fonts. Still Helvetica for everything, right down to "NEWS" in the logo. But it doesn't have to be this way. What if instead...

http://www.nickford.com.au/nford/skynews2008/logo.png

I've chosen the font Kontrapunkt. It reminds me of old heavy, serif fonts that used to be a common feature of news logos around the world. But it's got a modern slant to it, with slightly rounded edges - fitting in neatly with the new Sky News graphics.

Screen furniture:
http://www.nickford.com.au/nford/skynews2008/skynews2008-1.jpg
Instead of having the logo floating at the top of the screen, I'd bring back a stacked logo, though I wouldn't have it spinning around Fox News style!

Headline:
http://www.nickford.com.au/nford/skynews2008/skynews2008-2.jpg
Currently the headline bar has something of a cheesy Powerpoint feel to it. Here, I've given the headline bar a bit of depth. I think the new sliding animation of the headline bar would look a bit more convincing if (as it slightly rotates) it were more 3D.

Story:
http://www.nickford.com.au/nford/skynews2008/skynews2008-3.jpg
I don't like how in the new graphics the story text just wipes on and off, left and right, all as one block. I'd prefer to see it animate line-by-line, with the white bar appearing first, and the letters typing on just a couple of steps behind.

Name:
http://www.nickford.com.au/nford/skynews2008/skynews2008-4.jpg

Presenter:
http://www.nickford.com.au/nford/skynews2008/skynews2008-5.jpg
I don't know why there's a need to refer to the Sky News website here, but apparently Sky thinks it's a good idea, so I've retained it.

Breaking News:
http://www.nickford.com.au/nford/skynews2008/skynews2008-6.jpg
If the ticker turns yellow for breaking news, so should the other graphics as far as I'm concerned. Keep it consistent!

http://www.nickford.com.au/nford/skynews2008/skynews2008-7.jpg

Programme Strands:
http://www.nickford.com.au/nford/skynews2008/skynews2008-8.jpg
I've noticed Sky News using this "Inside Zimbabwe" bug, so I've just updated it here with the new font.

I'm not proposing to change any of the full screen graphics, but here's how the sting would look with the new logo and graphics:
http://www.nickford.com.au/nford/skynews2008/mockup1.jpg
(Original cap by Bail, as posted to the Sky News thread here on TV Forum).

Just some thoughts I had - always interested in feedback.

That is horrible! It's all a mish mash.

No offense but these are really quite disgusting! Change the font asap!

The new graphics are way better than this! Sorry Mr Q but the font on that mock is terrible.

There's a good reason why fonts like Kontrapunkt don't work. This is one awkward looking font and as you say, used to be common to have a slab serif type be your logo, they did fall out of style for a reason and whilst I love Lubalin Graph, Clarendon and others in general they don't say modern news to me. There's better fonts to choose than Helvetica I'm sure but it most likely will be sans serif.

As for the remainder as Kontrapunkt caused something of a car crash distracting from the rest I feel could do with a touchup but then I don't have Australian design sensibilities so can't make a fully fair assessment. I'd say to at least get a bit of weight differences in as it all seems to be the same weight which can look daft on single line astons.

Sorry, i'm not a fan of these mocks. I actually think the new on-air graphics aren't as bad as everyone is making them out to be.

I think the way to go would be a custom-made font for Sky News, modern and slick.

I'd have to second this. Although I think something can be salvaged from the colors used here, the fonts are horrid.

In theory, I really don't think a slab serif has to be unworkable - not just because they're in fashion atm - but as you allude to, the right font can transcend that traditional news/modern design bridge. Unfortunately, this just isn't that font. I'm also not really a fan of the bevel effect to try add depth to the astons. This also doesn't address a common complaint about the new set - the lack of differentiation in font weights, and I do agree with others (over in the SN thread) that a mixed-case story aston would go a long way to fixing this.

Horrid. Doesn't work at all.

It reminds me of the old Six O'Clock News logo. But it's far more spindly, and generally not very aesthetically pleasing.

Sorry, I don't like it.

It's different but it's just not the right approach at all. A very harsh looking font which wouldn't look too good on TV either.

The font has to go, Mr. Q. The layout of the graphics are fine.