Waves Revisited: Our Kingdom for a Logo | PBS FM

Tue 24 Nov 2020

Electronic Hip-Hop

Although PBS had a logo as early as the late 70s, by 1982 the station was on the hunt for a new one. Believe it or not, it's no easy feat to find the ultimate symbolic embodiment in one striking and memorable image. After flicking through every Waves magazine from 1977-1988 we found some possible contenders in this edition of Waves Revisited...

A station in search of a logo
Waves February/March 1982

Font on subscription form (designer unknown)
Waves January 1978

Simplicity with a stencil (artist unknown)
Waves August 1979

Made in a time when you created your own font. Artist uncredited
Waves April 1980

Sage Forest adapts 'The Great Wave off Kanagawa' for PBS
Waves June 1980

Artist uncredited
Waves July 1980

'Between the Ears' the station's earliest logo by Ken Fargher on a sticker
Waves August 1980

'Modulating your Frequencies' by Billy Greenwell
Waves November 1980

Comic inspired logo. Artist uncredited
Waves March/April 1982

Retro futuristic logo on the program guide by Billy Greenwell and Ken Fargher
Waves April/May 1984

Lino cut by Kim Hawker
Waves April/May 1984

Typographic logo on the program guide, artist uncredited
Waves August/September 1984

Lasso by Stuart Mitchell or Jane Brownrigg
Waves April/May 1985

‘Cubic Designs Inc’ artwork for PBS T-shirt, windcheater and plastic bag
Waves September/October 1985

Tag line. Artist uncredited
Waves February/March 1987

Freestyle ink logo by Stephen Banham
Waves February/March 1988

Artist uncredited
Waves February/March 1988

Justified typographic logo by Stephen Banham
Waves April/May 1988

Pictorial logo by Stephen Banham
Waves April/May 1988

Mixed font logo by Stephen Banham
Waves April/May 1988

To see what actually became the logo, or to find out more on the PBS story, check out the 40 Years of PBS Radio book.

Credits:
Bronte Laffin Vines and Alan Fitzpatrick (scans) Alicia Saye & Mara Williams.