What the work is
Bill Kennard designed the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s looping symbol in the 1960s. It drew on Lissajous patterns, which the broadcaster had already used as visual material between television programmes.
How it was made
The design translated an oscilloscope display into a repeatable graphic mark. Its technical origin connected the symbol with broadcasting while allowing it to operate without illustrating a microphone, radio or television set.
What works
The continuous line provides a distinct outline with internal crossings. Its connection to a signal is specific, yet the resulting figure can be recognised without understanding the equipment that generated the pattern.
What does not
The history includes multiple redrawings. Line thickness, crossing treatment and three-dimensional effects should be attributed to their particular versions rather than all assigned to Kennard’s initial drawing.
What it influenced
A 1974 revision thickened the line and emphasised its crossings. Later treatments, including a silver version, retained the underlying pattern, showing how a stable figure can accommodate changes in presentation.
Is it worth your time
Worth studying for abstract identity design. Compare the line structure across versions and distinguish changes to the symbol from changes to its surface treatment. The distinction helps explain what carries recognition through a redesign.
