AT&T Archives: Saul Bass Pitch Video for Bell System Logo Redesign
Sign in to YouTube
Sign in to YouTube
Sign in to YouTube
Uploaded on Nov 30, 2011
For more from the AT&T Archives, visit http://techchannel.att.com/archives
Saul Bass' work in logo design and movie title credit sequences spanned the latter half of the 20th century, with prominent work in each field. He worked closely with AT&T, designing not only the 1970 "bell" logo that was ubiquitous for a decade, but also the globe logo unveiled in 1983.
One reason for this bell logo's ubiquity? The redesign was the largest corporate re-identity program in the U.S., ever. The redesign covered:
135,000 Bell System vehicles
22,000 buildings
1,250,000 phone booths
170,000,000 telephone directories
This film was made by Bass' company as a presentation to AT&T executives. It would have extended to be shown to the public, but a number of his ideas in the film were not ultimately adopted, like his phone booth designs, and men's and women's uniforms. But a great many of the design were adopted—including, most memorably, the telephone vans and hardhat designs of the 1970s. Bass designed down to the details, showcasing in this film a myriad of ideas, like Yellow Pages book designs, cufflinks for executives, and flags.
Bass' other very recognizable logo designs that persist today include those for Minolta, Girl Scouts of America, Avery International, Geffen Records, Warner Int'l, and many more. And Bass' later, 1983 design for AT&T (the striped/encircled globe) was the foundation for the logo that the company has today, though redesigned in 2005 by Interbrand.
Produced by Saul Bass
Footage courtesy of AT&T Archives and History Center, Warren, NJ
-
Category
-
License
Standard YouTube License
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
-
9:49
Get far away from USA...its collapse will be messy: Jeff Berwickby Cambridge HouseFeatured
197,777
-
26:39
The Town and the Telephone - 1950's Bell Telephone System Educational Filmby Transport and Technology
6,093 views
-
24:41
Why Man Creates - Oscar Winning Shortby Bedroom Studio.
10,976 views
-
15:45
AT&T Archives: Seeing the Digital Future (1961)by ATTTechChannel
41,525 views
-
27:27
AT&T Archives: The UNIX Operating Systemby ATTTechChannel
80,153 views
-
31
videos
Play all
History of Telecomby Merrill3000
-
27:23
AT&T Archives: Telstar!by ATTTechChannel
13,367 views
-
3:00
What is Branding?by Norwich Business School's channel
325,894 views
-
14:01
AT&T Archives: What is the Bell System?by ATTTechChannel
8,757 views
-
12:36
AT&T Archives: In the Merrimack Valleyby ATTTechChannel
6,937 views
-
4:48
AT&T Archives: The Twinsby ATTTechChannel
10,437 views
-
17:21
AT&T Archives : Mr. Digit and the Battle of Bubbling Brookby ATTTechChannel
3,062 views
-
15:41
AT&T Archives: Operator (1969)by ATTTechChannel
10,539 views
-
13:21
AT&T Archives: Switchboards, Old and New (Bonus Edition)by ATTTechChannel
5,467 views
-
8:37
AT&T Archives: Testing the First Public Cell Networkby ATTTechChannel
16,572 views
-
9:50
AT&T Archives: AT&T Jubilee - TV Spots for the 100th Anniversary of the Telephoneby ATTTechChannel
752 views
-
13:27
AT&T Archives: Bottle of Magicby ATTTechChannel
10,774 views
-
7:50
The Traveling Telephone Switching Machine - AT&T Archivesby ATTTechChannel
3,986 views
-
35:56
Vintage telephone network sounds part 1by PrankyCallz's channel
61,918 views
-
28:11
AT&T Archives: The Phone Boom of the 1950sby ATTTechChannel
583 views
-
7:44
AT&T Archives: Good-Bye, Centralby ATTTechChannel
8,727 views
- Loading more suggestions...
Top Comments
Trevor Dark 1 year ago
Нет. Это видео как раз о том, что логотип - это не просто кружок, или набор линий - это грамотно построенный, выверенный и продуманный символ, который требует больших трудов в своей разработке.
Sign in to YouTube
Sign in to YouTube
Down10 9 months ago
This is so great! Saul Bass is one of my heroes in the world of design. His use of shapes and photographs are superb, and this presentation is no exception.
It's sad that a lot of the great brands that he created which lasted for decades are now being replaced with inferior designs. (United Airlines, for instance)
Sign in to YouTube
Sign in to YouTube
All Comments (78)
Nobes 1 week ago
The more things change, the more they stay the same. Seems like nothing's changed since 1969.
Sign in to YouTube
Sign in to YouTube
NetCast3 1 week ago
I love those background orchestral renditions of songs by Simon & Garfunkel, the Beach Boys, and the Beatles! Such a laid-back, comforting yet informative presentation!
Sign in to YouTube
Sign in to YouTube
TeeheeSamson 2 weeks ago
Happy Birthday Mr. Bass.
Sign in to YouTube
Sign in to YouTube
audiotrax2000 2 weeks ago
This is brilliant! Like an entire semester course in Pop Design. I love this.
Sign in to YouTube
Sign in to YouTube
InformatorMX 2 weeks ago
The birth of the 1970s Bell System Logo!!
Sign in to YouTube
Sign in to YouTube
Brent Newhall 2 weeks ago
Amazing clip!
Who's the narrator? It sounds like the Emperor from Dune; I keep waiting for him to announce it's the year 10,191.
Sign in to YouTube
Sign in to YouTube
DrProwPane 2 weeks ago
this is creepy
Sign in to YouTube
Sign in to YouTube
Leon1949Green 2 weeks ago
Как интересно найти сперва комментарии по-русски!
Sign in to YouTube
Sign in to YouTube
joegallegos61 2 weeks ago
muy original congratulaciones loe gallegos
Sign in to YouTube
Sign in to YouTube