MTV sends waves to designers

MTV Europe will start the search this spring for an on-air identity designer for this year’s European Music Awards.

The awards will take place in London in November, possibly at north London’s Alexandra Palace.

“We’ll probably look for an outside consultant to design the on-air identity, and the in-house team will adapt it to print material,” explains Peter Dougherty, MTV senior vice-president.

An MTV spokeswoman adds: “We may use Eric Coignoux, who designed the identity for last year’s event in France, to work on some of the design aspects.”

Comic illustrator and type designer Rian Hughes designed last year’s brochure (DW 15 December 1995).

A decision is expected between March and May.

MTV has teamed up with US magazine publisher Ray Gun to produce a youth culture magazine called Blah Blah Blah, designed by London graphic designer Chris Ashworth. It will be launched on 14 March and be targeted at 18-25-year-olds.