Seeing not seeing

Suppose you were driving to Cape Town and you saw this sign

Not so bad that you would need to stop the car, back up and read again, but you have to agree, something is just not right.

But suppose you saw this sign

Much better, isn’t it? And for good reason. The font initially used in Britain and later adapted in many countries on road signs was developed by South African born typographer and graphic designer Margaret Calvert and her colleague Jock Kinneir. It was a process starting in 1957 and after many trials, errors and experimenting ended in the 1960’s. A new font was born in the process – Transport font. They also invented and designed Transport’s related family of road signs commonly seen on road sides:

You haven’t thought “Nice font!” after finding the O.R.Tambo Airport off ramp sign with great relief, did you? Well, next time you use this one-of-the-most-read-and-directional fonts in the world, lift your cap for those ingenious pioneers. Appreciate the simple beauty of it all. And ponder for a moment: What in the course of an ordinary day do I not see seeing?

Go forth and see.

George

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