NEW LOGO AND INSIGNIA FOR 2010
The BBC unveiled its new logo and insignia for the 2010 series of Doctor Who. Resembling a hybrid of the earliest logos for the series -- plus a bit of a swipe from the former magazine DWB --- the logo itself is more compact and square than the version for The 9th and 10th Doctors. From a merchandise standpoint, this makes a bit more sense, as the current logo is very wide but exceedingly squat. The new design seems well-suited for t-shirts, ballcaps and even website thumbnails. Perhaps this is a nod to the very, VERY young cast that will have the TARDIS key handed to them on Christmas Day in the UK.
The insignia seems likely to be a stand-alone image, not necessarily to be used with the logo. My guess is that the BBC introduced both at the same time for publicity purposes, not to imply that both will be used concurrently. Another nod to compact images (one can imagine a parallel set of shirt and other merchandise release --- one with the logo, the other with the insignia).
The fairly monochromatic look of the logo and insignia is stark in contrast to the current version. But, this again may play into BBC Marketing plans, as they can save a few quid in all packaging designs by going simply with Tardis-blue, and no sunburst color blend.
This is yet another groundbreaking (for better or worse) move by the BBC to hype the program months prior to the departure of the current star and production team. I can not recall any previous DW era in which the new Doctor was announced nearly 12 months in advance of his appearance, nor a time in which the new logo was unveiled via publicity prior to its actual appearance in the title sequence.
I wonder if the BBC will also tinker with the current musical arrangement of the theme music. TIME will tell.