BBC News HD - Updated Graphics

The BBC News graphics are in dire need of an update, so I thought I would try to create something that's very different to the current BBC design.

My first step was to take the clock and move it out of the 4:3 safe zone. I'm almost 100% certain that if you are watching in HD, then you won't be watching in 4:3. Sky News also do the same, so it's not a completely worthless idea. The next issue was the BBC News logo. On the current design, the logo simply takes up space.

So, my next step was to remove the logo. Not an essential and BBC Breakfast doesn't have a logo constantly on the screen.

Next was cleaning up the straps. The 'Election 2015' straps are a bit of a mess, so I've simplified it right down. I've noticed how BBC News has been showing social media comments alongside party broadcasts, so I've tried my own version of that. 3 tweets are shown at one time, relevant trending people/hashtags are in the bar along the bottom. I know this design isn't going to be popular because of the use of hashtags and a bigger emphasis on social media. However, social media is the future and the BBC needs to keep up, or it's going to fall behind Sky News.

I'd appreciate it a lot if you could explain what rating you give and why. I don't mind getting low ratings, however, I do mind when people don't comment.

NB. Video available in HD.

I'm sorry to say, but I just don't like it. I agree with the 16:9 safe zone decision but the rounded boxes feel too light for a news channel and don't work with the original logo. Maybe try tightening the radius on the curves or make them square which would be my choice. I don't mind the removal of the logo but it might to others, try relocating to somewhere else, if you don't like it taking up space.

I don't particularly like the use of a twitter feed and hashtags on screen. It doesn't add much value to the news.
3/5 at best.

Tell the BBC then! That's what they put on screen during live news conferences, political conferences at least. It's one aspect of the mock that is realistic

As well made as it is, the rounded astons seem to break up the design far too much, and it doesn't look right to me.

Perhaps if the corners were made square, and the headline banner and news feed were joined up, then it would look better.
But for now, it gets 3 stars.

For me, the red and white colour scheme for BBC News is outdated and is what needs to change. Their graphics also look rather simple and plain and could do with being made a bit more fancy, but not OTT like Sky's.

A move to the 16:9 area is long overdue. 4:3 TV's aren't sold any more, and those that have them will likely have them set to letterbox 16:9 content as they would have complained about losing picture info long before now and had their sets corrected or told to upgrade by someone in the know.

Every "innovation" you've made with the graphics makes them worse than the current ones.

You've got rid of the logo for "wasting space", but then you repeat "☒ Election 2015 ☒" after every story on the ticker. You've expanded the graphics right to the edge of the 16:9 title safe area, giving the graphics no room to breathe. The ticker keeps changing speed, and the reminder of the exact date and time at the start of each hour would get intensely irritating.

That's not to mention the various other design issues; however, seeing as they were ignored the last time round, I don't see the point of pointing them all out.

I'm sorry, but I can't see a single redeeming feature of this mock. Everything from the colours and font to the alignment and design choices is poor, unoriginal or simply wrong. Back to the drawing board and start over.

You really don't need the HD logo on the BBC News logo but you do really need the BBC News logo on the ticker

Not liking Gill Sans, the rounded corners, or the fact it's a step back to 2008.

Agreed, Gill Sans is a no from me. Plus adding 'HD' onto the logo is a bit of a fad, fine for 4-5 years ago, but not really needed.

I don't really like the BBC News HD logo on the whole open, and the ticker has problems as well. The constant "Election 2015" scrolling is just a space waster. Gill Sans does not look good and needs changing.