The Newsreader S3
Role Graphic Designer
Production Designer Paddy Reardon
RELEASED ABC, 2022
Scope Graphic props, environmental signage, broadcast graphics, poster design, photo editing, photo compositing, packaging design.
Set in 1989 against a backdrop of volatile media wars, The Newsreader Season 3 required an authentic dive into late-80s Australian broadcast design, newsprint, and pop culture. My role involved creating a complete visual universe, from high-volume period newspaper props to full broadcast branding.
The graphic scope ranged from large-scale set recreations like the 1989 Logie Awards, to micro-detailed hero props. A major component was fabricating period-correct newspapers: modern high-res cast photography had to be heavily processed, down-sampled, and texture-mapped to match the low-fidelity print grain of 80s press printing.
1989 newspaper props including photo editing and digital texturing.
Public Eye
Beyond newsprint, I developed the complete brand system for Helen Norville’s new current affairs show, Public Eye. As a central story driver for the season, this identity went through extensive iterations to balance late-80s network aesthetics with character personality.
I executed the full suite from broadcast-ready logos and studio environmental graphics down to physical prop collateral, including press ID badges, official letterheads, and custom VHS tapes.
Small selection of environmental signage designed for the TV studios.
The Logies
Rebuilding the 1989 Logie Awards set required recreating an iconic Australian broadcast history into a fully realised physical set. The scope involved designing large-scale stage graphics, press wall backdrops, venue signage, graphic props (winners envelopes, menus, place cards), and broadcast-ready assets.
Working within the Art Department, I ensured every graphic element matched the era's distinct visual language, delivering period-accurate environmental art that stood up to modern high-definition cameras.
