BBC News
2024 UK General Election
Leading the design of the BBC's on-screen and in-studio data graphics for live election results coverage.
Background and context
The UK General Election is one of the BBC's major flagship events. Millions of viewers across the UK and the rest of the world follow live results coverage through the night and the following day, awaiting confirmation of new local council results, cabinet appointments and the new Prime Minister.
With the General election coverage being BBC News's flagship programme, the BBC Senior Directors take a keen interest in the election programming. I was therefore acutely aware of the importance of this event - as we're also competing for audiences with other major news channels.
Role and approach
Whilst the main election branding was steered by the news brand team, I was tasked with designing the on-screen and in-studio results graphics, presented by Clive Myrie and Laura Kuenssburg - broadcast live from BBC New Broadcasting House in London.
Senior BBC editor, Sam Woodhouse headed up the the election coverage. I therefore partnered with Sam to ensure all result requirements were covered throughout the course of the evening and following day.
This event was a first for BBC News, as it would be the first time they would produce on-screen graphics in HTML and CSS format. I worked within a cross-functional team of Developers and TV operators to create a new HTML-based set of TV graphics — consisting of 'lower thirds', on-screen results data, together with in-studio visuals.
I also had to think beyond this single event, to create an election results design system, that can adapt to any future election, whether it be local, UK General, US Midterms or the US Presidential election.
Outcome
TV work presents a different set of considerations to web. The first one being legibility due to screen distance, and in-studio camera positions. I had to ensure that the text, data and imagery, whether on-screen or in-studio would be easy to view by viewers.
We therefore took the opportunity to vigourously test both on-screen and in-studio graphics in the lead up to the election.
Senior BBC directors were delighted with the output, as were the presenters - who praised the clarity and impact of the results data and graphics. I am also immensely proud to have been given so much responsibility for this tent-pole moment in BBC's public service delivery.
Despite this project being for broadcast, I still approached it as I would for any other digital project. Working in Figma allowed me to collaborate, share and deliver pixel perfect designs and specifications to the Engineering Team. With results potentially swaying in many directions, I had to ensure that every outcome and outlier was accounted for.
I dedicated the right side of the screen to incoming results and analysis, whilst allowing for live TV to continue on the left side.
The 'tower' screen behind the presenters served as information for both the viewer and presenters - with party order shifting position inline with the incoming results.
We also made use of the extra-wide 'catwalk' screen, with a plethora of dynamic graphic results templates, enabling the presenter to easily read and explain both the exit poll predictions and incoming live results throughout the evening.
Here is BBC News' Rita Chakrabati talking through some of the in-studio results data on the catwalk screen. Please ignore the grey striping on the graphics! This was a live broadcast camera issue that was soon resolved.
Moving onto the 2nd in-studio Tower, this was used as a more graphical backdrop.
There were moments before the event where we could test out the graphical treatments, allowing us to check for position, legibility and general coherency. This also allowed for senior BBC directors to view, comment and sign-off on the work. And yes - that's me on the presenter's chair!
