Martin Lambie-Nairn, co-creator of Spitting Image and the man behind the Channel 4 logo and other TV branding, has died at the age of 75.
The graphic designer died on Christmas Day, the consultation he co-founded, ML-N, announced Monday.
In 1981, he came up with the original idea at lunchtime business for the sci-fi puppet show Spitting Image, which ran for 18 series between 1984 and 1996 and was watched by 15 million viewers in its area before it was launched. back for this year’s BritBox online membership service.
He received credit from the exhibitors, who said the series was “based on an original lunch by Martin Lambie-Nairn”.
The designer also helped bring out some of the most recognizable images on British television, including Channel 4’s original 1982 animated “blocks” logo and a series of BBC residents – the sequences between programs that recognize the channel – including global balloons used by BBC One between 1997 and 2001 and BBC Two idents as one with paint spraying horizontally over two.
A statement from ML-N stated that he was “one of the leading graphic designers and creative leaders of his generation”.
He said: “His unique work, kindness and creative spirit has impacted the lives of so many. Everyone who has had the opportunity to work with him over the years will miss him greatly. “
Sir Jony Ive, Apple’s head of design, said he was “lucky” that Lambie-Nairn had “grown up part of my visual landscape”.
He said: “His work for the BBC was so calm, thoughtful and beautiful. Identity is driven by beauty and not such a rare and valuable marketing record. ”
The Lambie-Nairn branding group also made the bubble logo used by mobile phone company O2.
The designer was the BBC’s creative advisory director for 12 years before moving on to other projects in 2002. He also led the Blue Peter competition in 2012 to design the official logo for the Queen’s diamond jubilee.
He was a member of the Royal Television Society and was an honorary doctor at Lincoln University and the University of Northampton.
Chris Cook, creative director of BBC News, tweeted: “This is very sad. Martin Lambie Nairn was instrumental in building the @BBCNews brand as it still is today. He was a brilliant illustrator and a very handsome man. Sleep tight. ”
Mark Read, chief executive of the multinational advertising WPP, commented: “Martin Lambie-Nairn has added so much to our industry and created some of the most iconic identities that have been a test of time throughout the world. world. ”