As there are some knowledgeable people occasionally reading this forum, I thought I'd get some help with a question that's been bugging me.
Who created the idents Meridian used when they launched in 1993? The ones with the spinning sun and the jingle composed by David Dundas.
If I had to guess, I'd say it had been created by English Markell Pockett, as they were behind the other idents with music composed by Dundas, and the design reminds me a lot of their other work. It definitely doesn't feel like something created by Lambie-Nairn, and it looks to slick and professional to have been done in-house.
If you don't have the answer yourself, perhaps you have access to a database where you could look this up. Thanks in advance!
I'm sure I remember reading a book detailing the work of Martin Lambie-Nairn at university. If they didn't come up with the idents, the definitely came up with the logo.
I'm sure I remember reading a book detailing the work of Martin Lambie-Nairn at university. If they didn't come up with the idents, the definitely came up with the logo.
My impression has been that Lambie-Nairn isn't a big fan of big complicated logos being hurled onto screen just for the sake of it, for example he has expressed loathing of the old Discovery Channel logo. But I may be wrong on that. Thanks anyway!
I don't remember it being in that Lambie Nairn book.
I'm pretty sure the Meridian logo was around as far back as the license application, it was certainly the only one of the new companies who used the logo on air they had when they won the license
I believe that the book we are talking about is "Brand identity for television - with knobs on", written by Lambie-Nairn himself in 1997. I'll have to get hold on that book someday to verify.
As Lambie-Nairn was behind the CARL<sup>T</sup>ON identity, it seems a bit strange for them to be behind the Meridian look to. If they had created Westcountry, they would have performed a hat-trick.
While we are on the subject, who created the launch idents for Westcountry and GMTV? If I have to speculate, Westcountry seems to have come from a London agency, while I wouldn't rule out that an American company created the GMTV look.
It wasn't LN, I have Meridian's first ident on a video tape they sent me, complete with countdown clock. It was some obscure design company which probably doesnt exist anymore.
I always thought the Meridian face was based on a sketch by one of the executives behind it. No idea where I got that information from though so don't trust it.
LN were behind the Anglia fluttering flag logo (which had a slate background). Very elegant design and lasted very well without dating, and was executed to a very high quality.
I'm pretty sure the Meridian logo was around as far back as the license application, it was certainly the only one of the new companies who used the logo on air they had when they won the license
Very true, if you see any of the 1991 Franchise rounds News reports on YouTube the only station that used the same logo in it's application and on-screen was Meridian. Carlton used their corporate logo at that time, which was rather dull, for Westcountry they didn't have one, and for GMTV they had a half a Sun in red with Sunrise Television underneath, but as said they all never happened.
Although no disrespect to Meridian or Lambie Nairn, the Meridian logo was quite clever, although it didn't have that Lambie Nairn look and feel to it.
With the exception of the 95-96 flashing colours look, Carlton used LN for their whole 9 years as a proper on-air identity, with the 95-96 look apparently made in-house at Central.
just a thought but wasn't it copied from the Southern Electricity logo of the time which was very similar with half sun/half moon design? Seems like imitiation is the sincerest form of flattery...