New to Typophile? Accounts are free, and easy to set up.
Type choice for large signage ?
Posted by Wei Heng in
12 Mar 2005 — 5:36am
12 Mar 2005 — 5:36am
Hey Everybody:
I am a new design student from Canada, and i am working on a project that requires a highly legible typeface from a distance that's also friendly and optimistic.
I do not know where to start. Can you suggest a few typefaces? or direct me to some resources that might be helpful for me. What kind of physical characteristic should i be looking for in such typeface?
Thanks for your input, god bless
User login
Support our Sponsors
12 Mar 2005 — 6:54am
Its a broad field. Friendly and optimistic could conflict with legibility, if the design got too "friendly and optimistic".
Depending on the distance, the mood, and just how legible you need to be, you could look at some of these:
Basalt, Capitolium, Grand Central, Gotham, Whitney, Mantinia, Sophia, Metron, Parisine and the meticulous Clearview.
Some of these are obviously not for use where legibility is _critical_, and some are quite pricey, too pricey for a student project (unless you only need to spec the type, not set it.)
12 Mar 2005 — 10:01am
A good local choice would be Keith Tam's Arrival - http://www.keithtam.net/ - not only are you using a locally produced font, but you might be able to convince Keith to critique your use of it too.
12 Mar 2005 — 10:55am
Here's a crazy idea:
http://www.fontbureau.com/fonts/Amira
Although the x-height is a bit small for signage.
hhp
12 Mar 2005 — 10:50pm
Thank you for your reply. I have carefully read through your responses.
I did consider Arrival, but Keith Tam is actually teaching in my school. I thought it would be too easy to just pick it randomly out of the hat, since that's the only type that i know designed for signages (cough* cough* due to Keith's heavy advertising in his type class, hehe)
I like to explore other options so i have a few to compare from.
For this project, the phrase "Big City, Here We Come" will be set in large sizes on the side of the street for driver to read as they drive, so i guess in a way it functions like a highway signage.
This tag line that i am using is to promote an friendly and optimistic feeling it's ideal that the typeface doesn't feel too cold.
14 Mar 2005 — 1:49pm
What about Vialog?
15 Mar 2005 — 11:12am
Comic Sans meets your requirements.
I'm serious.
If you are doing a research project you should forget your prejudices, and experiment till you discover what works best.
15 Mar 2005 — 11:16am
Yes, ignore everything except your inner child...
hhp
12 Mar 2005 — 11:12am
What kind of project is it for?
There are types designed for extreme circumstances (like
Clearview for highway signage) and then there are typefaces that
are designed for wayfinding and signage (Frutiger, Whitney) and
then there are faces that just hold up well at large sizes (The Sans).
12 Mar 2005 — 11:33am
Wei, I was going to recommend Arrival as well, since I do believe you are in Keith's class, right? He may be happy to let you use it.
Take a look at Metron, available at Storm. I have a weakness for this one.
I might have a few specimens lying around if you'd like to take a closer look.
PS
15 Mar 2005 — 10:47am
Gerard Unger's Capitolium was designed for wayfinding to be created for the Jubilee in Rome.