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Last month, we explored what it takes to create the look and feel of every show here at QVC with our Scenic Stylists. This month, we’re doing the same, but we’re moving away from the set and onto the screen. Let’s meet our Broadcast Graphics Team!

Getting Animated with the Broadcast Graphics Team

You’ve seen them before. They’re everywhere: on the news, during sports games, and yes, they’re even at QVC. No, I’m not talking about sharply dressed TV hosts (though you’ll undoubtedly find them here), I’m talking about live graphics. 

Live graphics? Yes, the columns of boxes that house our daily product information have a name, and an entire team behind them. Ever wonder how those little boxes are made?  For this Behind the Q post, I spoke with Rob Frankel of the Broadcast Graphics Team and learned what it takes to create this crucial part of our programming and discovered that QVC’s world of graphics goes way beyond a few boxes.

I met Rob at the production area located above our live studios and we headed towards the graphics room, affectionately named the Fishbowl. As we entered the room, we were enveloped in darkness and met with the soft glow of computer screens and the hum of CPUs.

Rob explained his complex role as simply as he could. “So, I’m a Broadcast Graphics System Engineer. No, really—that whole thing is my title,” he joked. “I design, animate, and program broadcast graphics for the live show. Under the direction of Greg Gialloreto and Joe Pendyck, I designed the iGraphic, which is now the standard for all QVC sites around the globe.”

We walked over to his workstation which is comprised of two desktop screens and a large touchscreen. “I also created and maintain the futz and Bitty Board™ systems,” he explained. “Futz is a collection of interactive touchscreen apps for our hosts and on-air guests. The apps range from social messages to interactive product demos. Basically, we want to create interesting and entertaining ways to display information for our viewers.”

The Fishbowl is a small room that houses the workstations for the graphics specialists and is also a stop on QVC’s Studio Tour. During our interview, a tour group actually passed by, and I immediately understood why they named it the Fishbowl. “The best thing about my job is that I get a lot of creative freedom,” said Rob. “I get to name my apps and there’s plenty of variety in our day-to-day. However, we do work in a fishbowl, and people love to tap on fishbowls…”

After the tour group passed, we continued our interview. Rob did a few demos on the touchscreen and explained the processes for creating the live graphics and social apps. Yet, beyond the creative freedom and collaboration he enjoys at his position, Rob’s greatest experience working at the Q actually involved a project outside his department. When asked about the best part of his job, he shared this story:  “It’s no secret that I love the Muppets, so when they came to QVC in March 2014 to promote Disney’s Muppets Most Wanted movie, I had to be on the photo shoot.

“I went straight to the man himself: the late, great photographer Buck Nonnemaker. Being in Live Graphics, there’s never a reason for us to be on a shoot, but I told Buck I’d do whatever it takes to be a part of that production, and he let me be a Production Assistant. I ran cables, set up monitors, and escorted the Muppeteers from set to set. Whatever they needed to get done, I did with a giant smile on my face.

“I shook Kermit’s hand, directed Fozzie Bear, and heard the Swedish Chef sing his signature song totally unscripted. Every second, there was something great happening. On the second day, I wore my Statler and Waldorf T-shirt; and that day also happened to be their scene day. When we wrapped, they asked me to take a picture with them… the Muppets asked me for a photo! They say ‘never meet your heroes,’ unless your heroes are the Muppets.”

Live Graphics at QVC certainly embodies what our company stands for: quality, value, and convenience. The team works to keep our customers up-to-date with valuable information through quality platforms like interactive apps, graphics, and product demos.  And, Rob’s story imparts the sense of community and passion shared by every QVC employee in the US and abroad. Many thanks to Rob for an exclusive tour of the Fishbowl, and the introduction to the complex and cutting-edge world of live graphics!

‘Til next time…that’s a wrap!

Kelly Murray, Copywriter