BBC2 - 2010 Continuity in 1991 Style

Afternoon.

Following on from previous recreations/mocks/whatever you like to call them where I've attempted to apply one era's visual style to another's, my latest idea was to combine the 1991 and 2009 BBC2 presentation styles (don't worry, the latter is only present in ident form!).

This one started as a straight-forward recreation of the 1991 template, replacing old 2 with new 2. I then realised that not only was this unimaginative, some elements did not instantly transfer themselves to the modern day (the logo just got in the way during trails). I therefore decided to throw a few ideas of my own into the mix; as if the 1991 style was introduced today as it were.

So the changes: the logo in the top left corner became a cut-out 2 (more in-keeping with the Window theme), elements moved around to better suit widescreen and new slide, sting and Action Line ideas.

I like to run some of my work through a DVD-VHS-DVD ageing process to add authenticity and also to see how it would work on screen. The video is presented in a pseudo 14:9(ish) aspect ratio as if it were recorded from an analogue broadcast (the fact that this meant I could engineer the Seascape ident to suit a centre-aligned logo was purely coincidental ).

A few image grabs in their original 16:9 pre-DVD transfer forms:

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w191/2007TopGearDog/91action.jpg

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w191/2007TopGearDog/91slide.jpg

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w191/2007TopGearDog/91trail1.jpg

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w191/2007TopGearDog/91trail2.jpg

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w191/2007TopGearDog/91sting.jpg

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w191/2007TopGearDog/91trail3.jpg

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w191/2007TopGearDog/91trail4.jpg

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w191/2007TopGearDog/91id1.jpg

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w191/2007TopGearDog/91id2.jpg

...and the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caBwnSuFJ1A

As ever, any thoughts gratefully received!

Edit: well clearly this posting lark has worked spectacularly well. Mods, would you mind deleting the duplications?

It's a brilliant mock, but I can only think these mocks are a bit unrealistic because the BBC changed these designs to the ones used from 1997-2001/2 purely to work and look better in the new widescreen format whilst still working in the old 4:3 format. What I'd like to see is how these designs would work using HD safe areas and not 16:9 safe areas; that is, using the whole width of the 16:9 aspect ratio.

But it still is a brilliant mock nevertheless. One minor note; the underscores on the BBC logo seem to disappear on the logo in the top-left on the trails.

A well developed mock Rob. Just one thing I found was that when the 2 was changing from full colour to an outline, it was slightly distracting. Other than that though, it is brilliant.

Why don't you PM Rob if you wish to speak to him?

Really nice mocks Jonny - these made me smile! I'm fond of the 1991 era, and have always preferred the look of Futura over Avenir, so there's a lot about this that I like - particularly how the Next device has become a form of programme slide!

Just a couple of areas to perhaps re-visit - making the stacked BBC2 logo in corner slightly larger; and on switching between solid '2' and outlined '2' on trails, to stick with just one of those two (personally I would go with the solid '2', but if it really has proven to be impractical , then it would have to be the outlined).

I suspect you may have already tried taking design cues from the 1991 slides? White logo as in the trails, and have the vertical strip background containing the ident-themed design instead of the '2' itself. For reasons of consistency I would say that would be the better option.

Now, this is really just nitpicking, but something seems off about the BBC logo letters; too angular I think. I can't say for sure at such small sizes, but it looks that way - so it depends on your source. I recall the 1991 logo included in one of the online TV font packs didn't have the letters quite right, so if you have used that version then I guess that's understandable.

Lastly, I really approve of the idea of recording these to DVD > VHS as shown in the video - I've tried it before very roughly of course, and it's good to see you giving it a go too! Aside from giving it a layer of authenticity, recording to VHS lets you know how the design holds up to reduced resolution and merging of the colour/brightness information - an excellent idea all-round.