That BBC2 symbol/ident is probably the one I associate more than any other in the channel's history. I guess we kinda overlook the fact that someone's got to put in the work to fill the gaps between programmes.
Absolutely. That symbol was groundbreaking not only in its design but in that it was (I think) the first channel ident not to be an actual physical model with a camera pointing at it. (Though the clock to go with it was a model AIUI)
For me though, The Good Life remains the most memorable title sequence of that era. Gloriously simple and completely associated with that show.
Did that BBC2 ident animate in some way, or was it purely static and I am confusing it with another BBC2 logo? IIRC, it animated in one "direction" going into an intro, then "reversed" at the end of the announcement? Also IIRC, it "reversed" to give a blank blaack screen at nightly closedown?
I'm too young to remember that era of '2', my favourite is always with the 1991 set, but I do understand the influence that symbol had on the few ident-lovers at the time.
It did animate. There was an animate on, where the screen started black, the lines swept in left to right, with the 2 drawing on top-left to bottom-right. There was also an animate-off which wasn't the reverse - it still went left to right as I remember.
There was also an electronic jingle to go with it - but it wasn't used a great deal, certainly in later years.
Interesting you mention the 1991 set for BBC 2. Of course between these two looks was the 1986 T W O look which was not liked at all by many accounts!
I'll see if there are any video links which illustrate how this logo worked on-air.
What was his part in the Doctor Who title sequence? A lot of people don't like that title sequence, but I think it's utterly fantastic, with the exception of the logo. For 1987 that was fantastic 3D animation and it really does stand up today.
What was his part in the Doctor Who title sequence? A lot of people don't like that title sequence, but I think it's utterly fantastic, with the exception of the logo. For 1987 that was fantastic 3D animation and it really does stand up today.
He devised all of it, and designed the logo. He was by this stage working outside the BBC.
I fall in to the camp of totally hating all of it unfortunately.
I didn't like that particular Dr Who logo either - nor the arrangement of the theme music at the time - but remember graphic designers don't work in isolation. They are working to a remit from a producer - and, at the end of the day, the producer can decide if he likes or dislikes the work. And to be fair, the sequence was very well executed.
Incidentally, I think I'm correct in saying that Sid Sutton who designed the previous Dr Who titles and logo - used from Tom Baker's last series through to Colin Baker - also designed the previous BBC2 ident. Coincidence?
What was his part in the Doctor Who title sequence? A lot of people don't like that title sequence, but I think it's utterly fantastic, with the exception of the logo. For 1987 that was fantastic 3D animation and it really does stand up today.
Yep - for it's time it was pretty good for 3D TV Graphics. ISTR that it was realised by CAL - who no longer exist. I have a dim recollection that they had to develop some of their own hardware for compositing (RGB vision mixers etc.) to avoid the quality losses that composite kit suffered from (in the days before analogue or digital component kit being widespread). I think quite a few graphics areas had RGB CAL stuff.