Back to the Futura

sii
14.Mar.2006 10.27am
sii's picture

I’m sure you’ll all have opinions about this one...

http://www.citydebate.com/florida/miamibeach/template.php?url=0103120603...

>City of Miami Beach is sponsoring a research project to test the legibility of the Futura typeface for use on directional signs.

>This testing procedure is required by the Florida Department of Transportation to document that the Futura typeface, proposed for use by the City of Miami Beach, has equal or better legibility than the standard highway typefaces.

Cheers, Si

Just checked and no it’s not April 1 yet ;-) Although it could be worse... http://www.abc.net.au/tropic/stories/s967707.htm



Prakash Nair
14.Mar.2006 11.07am
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Morons. Well looks like theres a new definition for the term “inappropriate.”


enne_son
14.Mar.2006 11.20am
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...equal or better legibility...

Depends on ’the standard’ of course. Perhaps US Intelligence is sophisticated enough to find some. But will the Brits concur?


sii
14.Mar.2006 11.30am
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Having never been to Miami, is the font choice architecturally inappropriate? Even if it’s not a good signage choice.


londontype
14.Mar.2006 11.51am
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Bureacrats. At least it wasn’t Arial or Comic Sans.

http://bancomicsans.com


dave bailey
14.Mar.2006 11.58am
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Futura would be considered an art deco typeface, no? If so it’s quite appropriate for Miami architecture. I just finished comps for a presentation that will be held in Miami introducing new RCA artists and we went with an art deco theme and used Futura for the artists’ names.


Nick Shinn
14.Mar.2006 12.03pm
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If people can’t read Futura, they don’t deserve a driving licence.

There is design logic in choosing Futura, given the role played by its classic art deco buildings in establishing Miami’s architectural identity. Although there are comparable American faces which would be more authentic.

While drivers look at signage briefly, signs are also a part of the urban environment that exists for everybody. This environment should not be reduced to a utilitarian lowest common denominator under the tyranny of the automobile.

Concerning accident prevention: In the interests of road safety and climate change, it would be a good idea to make city centres pedestrian precincts, ban the manufacture of SUVs and limit all cars to 35 hp per seat.

With insurance companies leading the way, GPS chips in automobiles will soon be used to monitor the movement of various kinds of vehicle within municipalities, and progressive taxation may also be applied.


dezcom
14.Mar.2006 12.07pm
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Ask Dave Barry about Miami drivers. I don’t think the road signs are the problem.

ChrisL


sii
14.Mar.2006 12.13pm
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From the site...

>To be eligible, individuals must be either be 18 to 34 years old or 65 to 80 years old, read English fluently, and have a valid Driver’s License.

True it seems a bit strange, by capping it at 80 they miss, what, 60% of the drivers in Miami. ;-)


dezcom
14.Mar.2006 12.56pm
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“by capping it at 80 they miss, what, 60% of the drivers in Miami. ;-)”

LOL!!! a modest estimate according to Barry:-)

ChrisL


londontype
14.Mar.2006 1.00pm
londontype's picture

If that’s so they’d better use Clearview. It was developed with older drivers in mind.


marnie
14.Mar.2006 1.13pm
marnie's picture

I like the idea. We’re just talking about Miami BEACH, the island, home of the art-deco hotels and traffic that moves so slowly you have plenty of time to read the signs... not the entire city of Miami with its eight-lane highways and speeding drivers who don’t use their turn signals.

(and I’ll be there on Thursday, oooh vacation!)


david hamuel
14.Mar.2006 2.03pm
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> is the font choice architecturally inappropriate?

Before or after the storms?


timd
15.Mar.2006 10.59am
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Is Futura Art Deco? I always think of it as Bauhaus.
Tim


Miss Tiffany
15.Mar.2006 1.34pm
Miss Tiffany's picture

except when people use the uppercase. :^D