Web Address: http://www.lambie-nairn.com 

Biography & Main Areas of Research Interest

Martin Lambie-Nairn is one the world’s leading authorities on television brand identity. His narrative is laced with rich experience. He entered the world of commercial television in the swinging, money-spinning Sixties, pioneered new graphic presentation techniques in the current affairs broadcasting in the Seventies, and in the Eighties produced a revolutionary computer-animated identity for Channel 4, which was to have a profound impact on television graphic design worldwide. In the nineties he has gone on to reposition BBC1 and BBC2, winning a host of design awards in the process, and has spread his activities to work for television stations in Europe, Scandinavia, New Zealand and the United States.

BBC Three
Lambie-Nairn has created the identity for BBC Three, the latest digital channel from the BBC which launched on 9th February 2003. For the identity, we needed to find a way of delivering against the core values of the channel (bold, challenging, young, risky, fresh, intelligent, British etc.). We have created an entire on and off air identity for the channel, including idents, stings, an on-screen presentation system, internal communication tools, stationery and literature.
 

Alhurra
We have created the identity for US-funded Middle East TV station. The channel identity uses the symbol of the Arab horse to reflect the meaning behind the channel name ‘The Free One’. Using this unique and powerful visual treatment we have created an entire on and off air identity for the channel, including idents, stings, an on-screen presentation system, internal communication tools, stationery and literature. Alhurra is expected to stand out among the other media available, having the highest production values in the region. Norman Pattiz called the graphics package “magnificent” and said it will “raise the bar” for all TV services in the Middle East’.

CBBC & CBeebies
CBBC and the new CBeebies channels required a look and feel that would reflect and meet the diverse needs of children. Focusing on one of the universal themes of childhood – kids feeling ‘in control’, our creative idea aims to position both channels as an adult –free place. The identities created needed to stimulate, surprise and be the fun friend who gives you access to different worlds. Overall, the channels aim to be infectious viewing for kids. From this point, our creative core thought was, ‘its alive and it’s catching’, which led to the creation of brightly coloured amorphous creatures that would interact, play and disrupt to build a reputation of the naughty child of BBC.

Discovery Kids on NBC
Lambie-Nairn not only designed and created the brand sequences and on-screen presentation system for the new programme block, but scripted and produced all on-air promotions. ‘The ‘Chomp’, a voracious creature who epitomises children’s insatiable appetite for excitement and adventure. The Chomp’s simple character design allows both boys and girls of different ages and interests to identify themselves as Discovery Kids.

BBC NEWS
We have rebranded the BBC’s entire news output to reassert its pre-eminent position in Britain’s news landscape and support the brand positioning of ‘truth well told’. The motif of the transmitting signals is infinitely flexible to work across all the BBC’s brands in the genre and can be adapted with relevant place names for local, regional, national and global news. The core components of BBC NEWS now reflect consistently the agreed identity. Includes separate identities for BBC Nations and Regions, BBC BREAKFAST, BBC NEWS 24, BBC News English Regions.

Reuters Television
Reuters Television – seen around the world and originating from production centres on three continents – lacked clarity and visual consistency. The existing logo was technically ineffective on-screen. We created a new logotype suitable for both television and computer screens and a brand identity which was consistent, practical to implement and which maintained existing brand attributes and equity established by the company to date.

O2
When BT decided to demerge its wireless business from the parent company they needed a new name and identity for the separately quoted business. The first requirement was to create a name for the new business. We followed our process to distil the core thought: essential for living. As a result, we developed the name O2 for the consumer and business-to business-brand. We started by considering how best to depict oxygen and decided to use water as a vehicle to illustrate O2 in the form of bubbles. This became one of the most significant brand properties and once again researched extremely well in all territories.

BBC
The key strategic objective for the BBC was to prepare and position itself for the digital age. Our task was not only to create a re-branding system that worked consistently across every part of the organisation but also to create a system which allowed for growth as new brands were created. At the heart of the identity is the re-design of the BBC logo, a new typeface (Gill Sans) and a new system of branding whereby personality is not conveyed through logos but by the creation of visual properties (e.g. BBC One’s ‘balloon’, the BBC Two ‘Performing 2’s etc.)

ntl:home
NTL:home is the consumer based service of the UK’s leading cable operator, offering internet, television and telephony access via one cable line. The consumer proposition developed focuses on ‘the only connection you will ever need which gives you faster richer access to everything and everyone you want’. Our creative work centres around the idea of being ‘always connected’, using illustrations to communicate the service, bundling offers, genre. The identity also has to work across different media and platforms including iTV.

Music Choice
Music Choice is a digital music channel broadcasting audio and data 24 hours a day via the internet and digital satellite and cable platforms with no interruption from commercials or DJs. The big idea behind the identity comes from the proposition 'The Centre for Great Music' which gave us the target device for the logotype. This logotype is supported by a 'Paint Splash' which expresses the vibrancy and passion associated with music.

PowerGen
PowerGen began to sponsor ITV’s National Weather 10 years ago in order to maintain a high level of awareness amongst the general public at a time when the electricity market was becoming increasingly competitive. Lambie-Nairn created both the first set of sponsorship sequences in 1993 and also the current sequences. These use lavish costumes and sophisticated special effects, drawing on a wide range of different cultures and nationalities to evoke startling characterisations.