Introduction
We have over 50 interviews with very successful creatives from all corners of the media world and it never ceases to amaze me how many found a passion for their chosen career very early in life, sometimes
even during their earliest school years. James is no exception, having discovered whilst he was at primary school that he was more interested in how and what joined TV programmes together rather than
the programmes themselves. Also very strong amongst our interviewees is a drive to find out more about their passion. Here James tells us how he reached out to industry professionals to learn and how
this kick-started his career which has ultimately led to working as a senior designer on some of the BBC's high-profile news programmes.
Where did your interest begin?
I have been fascinated by design from a very young age. Often I would
spot that shopfronts have new signs or logos have changed even when I
was at primary school.
I also have had a fascination with television along as I can remember.
Although unlike most people I enjoyed the bits ‘between the
programmes’ as opposed to the programmes themselves! I was glued to
watching the broom-cupboard continuity links on CBBC and CITV as a
child and was fascinated with how television was made. I distinctly
remember the big BBC rebrand in 1997 by Martin Lambie-Nairn launching,
that is probably my first conscious memory of broadcast design and
identity. I knew after seeing the wonderful simplicity of the BBC
‘blocks’ and how they were executed across the BBC portfolio from
the now iconic BBC One ‘balloon’ idents to the CBBC animated
‘black and yellow’ stings, that I wanted to make those things
between the programmes one day. Thus, I followed my dream of working
in television and design. Dreams can come true!
Did you have a formal graphics-based education?
Yes, at secondary school, my art teacher suggested that, despite my
rather average paintings, I could possibly have a streak in me that
could suit graphic design. I have no idea how he spotted my potential
and I thank him massively for setting me off on my way to a career in
design.
He coached me after school most weeks for a GCSE in Graphic Design, in
addition to my GCSE in Fine Art. Following on from that, I went on to
study Graphic Design at A-Level and then studied Advertising Design at
University. This felt to me like a really strong grounding for a
career in design, putting my creative skills to the test with real
life briefs and timescales, mixed in with the language, branding and
strategy elements that fill in the bigger picture of identity and
campaigns.
Can you describe your career progression after finishing your
education?
Throughout my time at university, I worked for an agency as a junior
designer. This was a really great way to learn artworking skills,
typesetting and most importantly working within super short deadlines.
I was surrounded and supported by some really talented people and I
was able to learn so much in such a short space of time by having real
hands on experience of agency life. It was challenging juggling this
alongside my studies, but somehow I made it work. I am an incredibly
driven, and design is my passion. I’m always curious to learn
more and more about other design disciplines, so I guess that is what
those combined gave me the energy to juggle both studying and starting
my career at the same time.
How did you land your first graphics role at the BBC?
My dissertation for my finals was about broadcast design within news.
As part of this quite niche subject matter, I emailed several key
figures within broadcasting for an interview to find out more on the
subject. To my surprise, most people got back to me and offered me a
trip to their studios. This straight away opened doors for me, getting
to meet people who kindly gave up their time to meet me, information
about the industry and what they do and most importantly they offered
me some brilliant guidance and advice.
Most notably, I have the design director at Sky News to thank for my
first break into TV by allowing me to spend some time with his team of
designers. This was my first experience of a live news environment. It
was buzzing, energetic and challenging but I knew from that moment that
this is the kind of career I wanted.
I was able to show that I was hungry for a job in broadcast design. My
first paid work in television was for Blue Peter. I emailed the
programme editor asking if I could come in and shadow their team, and
within an hour of firing off the email I had my first paid job, to
make some graphics for a film they were making for next week’s
programme. I am so thankful to those who took a risk on a 19 year old
designer, still at university. I am still in touch with many of those who
I met along the way. All of these opportunities helped me build a very
basic portfolio that showed I had the skills, albeit a rough diamond
for the job at the BBC!
What skills do you need to work as a designer?
Number one key skill for me would be just having a great eye and flare
for design. Technology and software evolves all the time and you can
always teach that. I believe the very best designers have a love for
design which gives them that edge.
I also think you need to be a great people person. A lot of my job is
working with clients, journalists and producers who may not always be as
visually literate with graphic design and timescales or maybe just need
a guiding hand with how to make something look great. So if you can
work with a range of character types, understand their brief, unlock
their idea and develop the vision with them, that’s the hardest bit
of the job nailed! Communication is everything.
How do you learn your craft?
I strived to get every opportunity I could when I was studying and
still strive to experience more parts of design. Along the way, I
wasn’t afraid to ask for advice, guidance or just get in touch with
graphic designers or design directors that I really admired to meet
for a coffee and find out how they got to where they are and
understand how they worked.
What is your role within a broadcast team as a senior designer?
Day to day, I work across our daily output, producing infographics for
the programme. This can range from graphics to go behind the
presenters in screens in the studio, or to insert within a news
report. Increasingly these days it may even be a short video or GIF
for our social media channels.
Longer term, I look at our programmes branding. I’ve been lucky
enough to lead the redesign of Newsround, the BBC’s flagship news
programme, along with the refresh of the flagship Breakfast programme.
I’m always looking for new ways we can evolve and push our design
output forward.
Times can get really busy when a big news event occurs, in my seven
years at the BBC, we’ve had two general elections and two
referendums. These are huge events for all broadcasters, it is our job
to break down the key election issues and explain them in a
digestible, engaging and beautiful way.
This can involve directing shoots with presenters for films with 3D
tracked graphics, or making titles and branding for the televised
debates. One of the projects I am most proud of was my designs for
‘Newsbeat: The Final Debate’ which was broadcast live on BBC One
48 Hours before the country voted. A huge TV moment in the campaign
and I had to get the look and the feel of the design looking
distinctive from other outlets, consistent across tv, social and
online. A feat I am really proud of.
How do you progress to the role of senior designer?
Drive and determination, followed by a love for design. Always be
curious, as questions and challenge the status quo. I’ve been lucky
enough to work on several larger projects from rebranding our
programmes to big news stories. This has allowed me to take a bigger
picture view of our output and really consider the wider design or
look. For example with the Newsround rebrand I worked closely with a
set designer and composer to get the brand looking and sounding right.
This was a really rewarding and inspiring experience working with two
other creatives from other disciplines to see how they respond to a
brief. I also strive to improve everything we do. I want to meet
designers, artists and creatives from across the industry and I
think because of my constant curiosity and passion for design, I’ve
been able to grow as a designer not only from my own experiences, but
by hearing about their experiences too.
Describe a typical day.
It could be a typical day or night depending on what show I am working
on! Normally the shift starts with a meeting of what is happening
within that day’s show, what graphics will be required and in what
format. Then throughout the day I will be liaising with producers and
journalists to visualise their stories with graphics. Sometimes it can
be really picture challenging, especially on shows like Newsround when
sometimes the story can have distressing imagery associated with it.
This is where we rely heavily on using illustration to tell a story
with as little distress as possible for the audience. For Breakfast
news, we work through the night to get on air at 6AM every day.
Working late and into the early hours brings their own challenges of
creative block, tiredness and wellbeing. I find it really important to
eat healthy and find time after the shifts to de-stress so I can
perform my best.
Can you briefly describe the workflow for designing new on-screen
graphics?
The process for designing new on screen graphics will start with a
brief from the editorial lead of the programme. They may want a new
coming-up sequence, top of the hour ident. It’s then my job to
interpret that brief and I’ll spend some time off rota coming up
with ideas to present. Often my designs will be collaboration with
the editorial lead, a TV director who will be able to advise on how
the graphics should function within the gallery and running orders
and other members of the team. I have to design within constraints of
a particular brand, or technical limitations we may have with our
hardware and live graphics layout within the control room or gallery.
"I still after nearly seven years in TV news get a buzz when I see my graphics being broadcast to millions around the world."
What are the highs and lows of the job?
There are so many highs, I still after nearly seven years in TV news
get a buzz when I see my graphics being broadcast to millions around
the world. It is a huge privilege to help tell stories and work with
some great people at the BBC. There isn’t really a low, but the
hours can be demanding and sometimes you have to make sacrifices in
your personal life to accommodate breaking news events. Our job in
broadcast is to be reactionary to what happens in the world on any
given day. That is very unpredictable! I love it. I'm also lucky
enough I've been asked to mentor students from a number of different
universities around the UK. This is a hugely rewarding high that I get
from my job, seeing other designers grow, develop and flourish.
What does your unique vision bring to your work?
I’m a self-confessed brand nerd, I love all things television
presentation, which gives me a slightly different perspective to some.
I watch a lot of output from broadcasters around the globe. Seeing
what others do always inspires me to see if I can take it to the next
level. I also have friends all over the design and arts industry,
within advertising, print and TV. Hearing how they may have responded
to a brief can certainly help me steer my own approach.
I also have an obsession with how my graphics sound. I think people
can forget how important audio is within a visual experience. I really
enjoy working directly with composers, most notably David Lowe and
David Connolly at Molecular Sound on projects. I will often give them
a brief first, and they'll come back to me with a music track that can
really help me spark off a visual idea. We often bounce visuals and
graphics back and forth a few times until we feel it’s right, it's
a really fun way to work.
What are the tools of the trade?
We predominantly use Adobe After Effects, Photoshop and Illustrator
for making our motion graphics. On longer term projects or where
appropriate we also use Cinema 4D for 3D motion graphics.
What advice would you give to anyone wanting a design career?
Be passionate, show a willingness to learn and be prepared to work
really hard! Love what you do and really have fun with exploring
software, techniques or self-initiated projects.
Links:
James' website: jamesmobbs.com
James on Twitter: twitter.com/jamesmobbs
All images © James Mobbs and used with permission
Article Date - September 2018
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