Comments on: A matter of fonts http://secondavenuesagas.com/2008/10/22/a-matter-of-fonts/ A New York City Subway Blog Fri, 25 May 2012 11:40:42 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Logrithmic http://secondavenuesagas.com/2008/10/22/a-matter-of-fonts/#comment-56808 Logrithmic Thu, 23 Oct 2008 18:15:40 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=1532#comment-56808 I made the same observation a couple of weeks ago. I made the same observation a couple of weeks ago.

]]> By: Scott E http://secondavenuesagas.com/2008/10/22/a-matter-of-fonts/#comment-56792 Scott E Thu, 23 Oct 2008 02:07:49 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=1532#comment-56792 I've seen worse. At the Flatbush Ave. LIRR (Atlantic Ave IRT stop) the blue plywood walls restrict your line of sight so much that there are 8 1/2 x 11 sheets of paper stapled to the walls directing you to platforms for the various tracks. Surprisingly, they are easy to read. Changing the font of line letters/numbers isn't new. We've seen the subtle differences between Helvetica and Akisdenz Grotesk on the J train (compare <a href="http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?72481" rel="nofollow">this</a> to <a href="http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?26238" rel="nofollow">this</a>. Plus, some permanent signage on the <a href="http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?54327" rel="nofollow">headhouse at Bowling Green</a> makes the numbers a little fancier and a little nicer than the standard font. Regarding the image in the original article, I like how the arrow was turned upside-down. You can tell by the white line at the bottom instead of the top! I’ve seen worse. At the Flatbush Ave. LIRR (Atlantic Ave IRT stop) the blue plywood walls restrict your line of sight so much that there are 8 1/2 x 11 sheets of paper stapled to the walls directing you to platforms for the various tracks. Surprisingly, they are easy to read.

Changing the font of line letters/numbers isn’t new. We’ve seen the subtle differences between Helvetica and Akisdenz Grotesk on the J train (compare this to this. Plus, some permanent signage on the headhouse at Bowling Green makes the numbers a little fancier and a little nicer than the standard font.

Regarding the image in the original article, I like how the arrow was turned upside-down. You can tell by the white line at the bottom instead of the top!

]]> By: Josh http://secondavenuesagas.com/2008/10/22/a-matter-of-fonts/#comment-56785 Josh Wed, 22 Oct 2008 20:46:02 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=1532#comment-56785 Temporary signage is frequently the responsibility ofthe contractors or construction management firm. Contractors don't give a damn about fonts, unless its in the contract language AND someone at the agency is willing to enforce the language. On many government projects in New York, the contractors do whatever they want and aren't held accountable because its not worth the legal fees or the project delay. Temporary signage is frequently the responsibility ofthe contractors or construction management firm. Contractors don’t give a damn about fonts, unless its in the contract language AND someone at the agency is willing to enforce the language.

On many government projects in New York, the contractors do whatever they want and aren’t held accountable because its not worth the legal fees or the project delay.

]]> By: P http://secondavenuesagas.com/2008/10/22/a-matter-of-fonts/#comment-56784 P Wed, 22 Oct 2008 20:37:59 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=1532#comment-56784 Isn't the MTA's font Helvetica? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helvetica#Usage Isn’t the MTA’s font Helvetica?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helvetica#Usage

]]> By: Benjamin Kabak http://secondavenuesagas.com/2008/10/22/a-matter-of-fonts/#comment-56783 Benjamin Kabak Wed, 22 Oct 2008 19:22:17 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=1532#comment-56783 Indeed it is. I wonder if it was a postscript replacement font. It certainly looks jarringly wrong in the subway. Indeed it is. I wonder if it was a postscript replacement font. It certainly looks jarringly wrong in the subway.

]]> By: James D http://secondavenuesagas.com/2008/10/22/a-matter-of-fonts/#comment-56782 James D Wed, 22 Oct 2008 19:19:02 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=1532#comment-56782 Is that Univers that I spy? Is that Univers that I spy?

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