The design challenge for Al Jazeera’s 2016 election coverage was profound, in that the graphics needed to work across all international broadcast/cable channels and seamlessly integrate to digital and mobile platforms. We strongly felt that the graphic design needed to distinguish itself from the typical and avoid the usual clichés found in so many election graphics. The team set out to follow one basic but fundamental design tenet, it needed to be “simple,” with clear design rules that would convey the information quickly to the viewer. This was a very important consideration when election results are displayed quite fervently throughout the on-air coverage.
All of the graphics and animations were produced in-house and provided to the other channels: Al Jazeera English, Al Jazeera Balkans and Al Jazeera Arabic, where their network creative groups would change the text from English to their native language and alphabet. The real-time data graphics were integrated by Astuce Media, who built the displays based on our designs and animatics, which we provided to them. We also furnished the design elements to the various digital and mobile groups for their own data integration and to ensure specific and concise branding throughout.
For the set design we used the main studio wall as a backdrop with cycling graphic elements, creating an interesting backdrop to reflect the ongoing election process. The wall was also designed to be flexible and could be easily updated throughout the campaign to focus on specific primaries or coverage. All of the demographic and poll graphics were templates, built for producers to input and display on-air quickly throughout the coverage.
The Al Jazeera America Design Team:
Ross Henderson: SVP Creative
Samuel Mandragona: Creative Director / Graphics Producer
Loretta Kielar: Lead Animator / Art Director
Jeremy Carrow: Lead Animator
Josh Monesson: Lead VizRt Artist / Animator
2. 2
Introduction
The upcoming 2016 Presidential election is extremely important as it sets a new
direction after eight years under the leadership of Barack Obama. The outcome
of this election has ramifications that not only echo across America but
reverberates throughout the world. As Al Jazeera is one of the only truly global
news organizations, we have an obligation to present the election process not as
just a singular patriotic endeavor, but one in which “All the World’s a Stage.”
Shedding the obvious and literal visual clichés used in Presidential elections,
from waving flags to glass rendered White Houses, we look to present clarity and
focus in the design of information and vote results. To that point, we use those
same visuals but inferred them rather than lifted them directly, resulting in a
presentation that is fresh, contemporary and yet quite familiar.
Importantly, we have also created a design theme that works well across the
various broadcast and digital properties of Al Jazeera Media Network, a must in
cohesive branding on a global scale.
3. 3
Design Ethos
Choosing a President of the United States, is a process that requires many
steps, from the primaries to the party nomination and eventually the final
culmination of election night. Our goal is to visually infer that process with
thoughtful design and animation.
Vote results, on both primaries and election night, have a tendency to become
visually overwhelming, with graphics playing out fast and furious. The
redundancy of the information can blend into itself, which obscures clarity and
soon becomes difficult to follow and grasp.
To address this major concern we have established visual protocols that the
viewer, both on broadcast and digital, would find useful. All data will be
displayed in circles while the use of color, contrasting with the black, white
and grey, will focus the attention on the most important information. By
subtracting the unnecessary, the meaningful is obvious, in a clean and
manner. It is in this simplicity that lies the ultimate sophistication.
4. 4
Visual
References
The visual identity and branding will
reference the most recognizable elements
associated with this election. The
classical revival architecture of
Washington DC, The states that make
up the county and the iconic flag.
5. 5
Overview of
Design Concept
These images are a cross section of
designs that demonstrate our design ethos
and single vision from opening sequence
through to results graphics.
7. 7
Logo / Brandmark
Our logo demostrates our clean and clear approach. There are two versions.
8. 8
Color Palette
Primary Primary Primary Primary (Combination of gold and grey)
Alternative Colors Alternative Colors Alternative Colors Alternative Colors Alternative Colors
RGB RGB RGBRGB RGB
RGB RGBRGB RGBRGB
RGB RGB
RGB RGBRGB RGB
RGB RGB
21, 82, 193 177, 10, 10 245, 170, 3191, 60, 131 120, 120, 120
8, 61, 124 237, 127, 51129, 20, 20 77, 77, 7765, 24, 107
30, 120, 226 193, 44, 46
32, 157, 215 236, 111, 52222, 55, 37 165, 165, 165
31, 99, 224 179, 26, 47
Democrat Republican Third Party Generic/Neutral
9. 9
Head Shots Treatment
Candidates will always be displayed in full color over the party colour when they win or are in contention.
Full Color / Winner Full Color / Winner Full Color / Winner
Loser Loser Loser
Democrat Republican Third Party Generic/Neutral
10. 10
Typography and layout overview
Candidate names are color coded relating to party. To re inforce the winner the first name will turn black. All data is displayed in circles while the
use of color, contrasting with the black, white and grey, would focus the attention on the most important information.
Hillary
Clinton
Hillary
Clinton
Marco
Rubio
Other
PartyNames
Primary Delegate Count
Electoral Vote / Race Call
Projected Winner
Polls
Electoral Vote / Uncalled Race
Name when race is called (winner)
16. 16
Video Wall Background
The wall will tell the story of the election. At the beginning we will see profiles, states and generic branding. As the story develops we will see candidates
drop out, results from primaries and polls. We will end with just the two candidates from each party.
Full wall layout
Wall quad examples
22. 22
The transitions from one graphic to another will be obvious and interesting,
providing a visual cue that information has been updated. This would be most
important when multiple graphics are sequenced back to back.
Results Graphics
Transitions
29. 29
Digital Platforms
Our intention is that the election brand will
remain consistent across all platforms
including web, tablet and mobile. The
graphics are almost identical and vary
only so they can work on the various
smaller screens. We dispense with the 3D
transitions in favour of an even cleaner
approach that is better suited on
smaller formats.
