BBC Sport
Major International Sporting Events
Hard Set Design | Studio Graphics | Bespoke Design
Major International Sporting Events
Hard Set Design | Studio Graphics | Bespoke Design
Trigger was commissioned by BBC Sport to design and produce hard set elements and studio graphics for major international sporting events, including the London 2012 Olympics, the European Athletics Championships in Zürich 2014, and the IAAF World Championships in Beijing 2015. Each project required bespoke, interactive designs that would enhance the live studio coverage, engage viewers, and celebrate athlete achievements in a visually impactful way.
For the London 2012 Olympics, Trigger created a magnetic scoreboard in the form of Big Ben, featuring a totalizer arrow to track Team GB’s medal count. This was complemented by three giant Olympic medal boards, where the faces of British athletes were added in real time to celebrate their victories. These hard set elements were used on the BBC’s ‘Olympics Tonight’ show, hosted by Gabby Logan, providing a dynamic and interactive feature for recapping the day’s events.
Building on this success, BBC Sport commissioned Trigger again for the European Athletics Championships in Zürich 2014. Inspired by the event’s mascot, Cooly the Cow, we designed a set of three magnetic medal scoreboards, each featuring an illustrated version of Cooly wearing gold, silver, and bronze medals. These boards allowed presenters to track medal wins live on air, with athlete images that could be moved around throughout the event. To enhance audience engagement, a cowbell was rung in the studio each time a medal was won, adding a playful and celebratory touch to the coverage.
For the IAAF World Championships in Beijing 2015, we created a large-scale hard set piece based on the event’s mascot, Yaner the Swallow. Yaner was illustrated at an oversized scale, holding each of the medals under his wing. The centre of the design featured an interactive gong, used on the BBC’s highlights show to celebrate British medal wins. Additionally, a second magnetic scoreboard called ‘Michael’s Golden Gong’ was created for presenter Michael Johnson, providing a unique way to highlight key athletes in the championships.
Each of these projects required expert illustration, set construction, and innovative design solutions, ensuring the hard set elements were visually striking, practical for live broadcasting, and seamlessly integrated into the studio environment.
The hard set pieces created for BBC Sport became highly interactive and engaging features of the live broadcasts, bringing an extra layer of excitement to event coverage. The Big Ben medal tracker, the Cooly the Cow scoreboards, and the Yaner gong all provided memorable, visually impactful ways to celebrate athlete achievements while keeping viewers informed. The integration of magnetic elements, moveable scoreboards, and interactive props allowed presenters to dynamically update medal standings, creating a more immersive experience for audiences. Each project was delivered to tight production schedules and built with high-quality, durable materials, ensuring they could be transported internationally and withstand repeated use on set. The success of these installations further solidified Trigger’s reputation as a go-to creative partner for BBC Sport, delivering high-impact, bespoke set designs that enhance live studio coverage.
If you’re looking for branding, web design, or digital strategy, we’d love to help. Based in Sussex and Manchester, we work with clients across the UK and can meet online or in person, depending on your location. We also specialise in creative design, websites, and marketing for the education sector through Trigger Education. If you’re a school, college, or multi-academy trust, visit our dedicated education site to learn more www.triggereducation.co.uk
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