Signs are a form of communication in our society and civilization, they warn us, alert us and help keep us safe. They help navigate and simplify our lives, well, if they’re done right. Otherwise, they can cause problems, sending us down the wrong path, making us stare at them too long, causing challenges when driving, biking, or maneuvering into our desired lane or destination, it matters, just think about it.

Think parking structures, elevator signs, restrooms, food, or office directories. What about corporate logo signage, passing arrows, and the time it takes to read a sign and then act on that information while driving down the freeway?

There is a lot of planning and design going into signage, much more than you might think, and this was originally pointed out to me on our online Style Think Tank by one of our visiting members, who recommended this very good book to me to read – the name of the book is:

“Architectural and graphic firms”, by John Follis and Dave Hammer, published by Architectural Press Ltd., London, 1979, pp. 232, ISBN: 0-85139-060-9.

One of the authors, John Follis, created the signage for the Los Angeles Bicentennial and for Disney World, and was a great pioneer in revolutionary changes in the industry. David Hammer had worked with Sears, Bank of America, and many other major corporations designing all of their building signs, and he was an amazing photographer.

What a great book, with insight and consideration of the real human factors involved in signage, language and time to decipher while driving or moving. Project analysis and planning issues are also discussed and debated. Construction and materials are also discussed, as well as longevity. There are examples of more than 25 designers of modern signaling systems. Like the use of common symbols, the alphabet also works for hospitals (H), parking lots (P), or airports (A).

Now this is a great picture book and the authors have written research papers and studied countless others. Although it was written and produced over 30 years ago, it gives us all a reality check and history, it’s amazing how many examples in this book, and the ideas are commonplace today, I mean the concepts of signs for the future in this book can be seen everywhere in Europe, China, Australia, South America, USA, Canada, Mexico and throughout the Middle East and the African continent.

You’ll learn about typography, cultural issues that need to be considered in the design and use of fonts, and how associations and industries should work together to standardize. How the EU, US and other neighboring nations must work together to create coherence, including royalty payments to designers and the use of international symbols. Learn how to implement, design, and oversee a large project with signs spanning many sectors, nations, and industries.