Transit Signage System Design Theory & Practice Special thanks! To the SFMTA internship program. Especially Lulu Feliciano, Chimmy Lee, and Kathleen Phu for allowing me to be challenged and to pursue this project. To Derek Kim for the mentorship along the way. To Umut Toker for teaching me that design matters and to never stop learning new skills. To the City and Regional Planning Department at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, for the education and support. Part I. The Importance of Signage & Branding INTRODUCTION 1 HISTORY 2 WHAT IS WAYFINDING 3 THE BENEFITS OF BRANDING TRANSIT 4 BRANDING PUBLIC TRANSIT 5 TRANSIT SIGNAGE DESIGN 6 PROCESS PRECEDENTS: PARIS LONDON 7 NYC CONCLUSIONS 8 Part II. Van Ness Bus Rapid Transit Signage System Design INTRODUCTION 1 PROBLEM DESCRIPTION 2 METHODOLOGY 3 DATA ANALYSIS 4 VAN NESS BRT SIGNAGE SYSTEM DESIGN 5 PROPOSAL NEXT STEPS 6 Part I. The Importance of Signage & Branding 9 Introduction 1. Introduction Signage system design and branding are the Part I of this report discusses the importance of first elements of a transit system that users signage system design and branding through come in contact with. The signage design, research and precedent analysis. Lessons information provided, branding, interactions learned from the research are applied to San with transit staff, and quality of service all make Francisco Municipal Transit Agency’s incoming up a complete experience for the transit user. Van Ness Bus Rapid Transit corridor, in Part II of The impressions one has with any of these the report. Part II shows signage system design touchpoints can inspire one to continue using examples and illustrates how signage system transit or prevent one from using it again. design and branding could make Van Ness Bus Rapid Transit look and feel. In a time where air quality is poor, resources are scarce, and congestion is high, it is a transit agency’s duty to provide high caliber public transportation options for the community. The best way to intrigue more users into choosing transit is to provide a quality experience for the user. The experience is not only the type of service provided by the transit system, but it is the way the transit system and its design make users feel. When signage system design and branding are done right, users feel comfortable and safe, and their transit trip seems simple. Convenience and ease are some of the most significant influences that bring people out of the automobile and into the bus. Providing the right information at the right locations and displaying it in a readable way, makes transit decisions convenient and easy. 10 The Importance of Signage & Branding Art Nouveau Paris Metro entrances with built in signage, designed by Guimard 11 History 2. History 2.1 Signage Overview transit signage. Stations became more and The history of signage begins with buildings more intricate with the growth of new systems and commerce. Before public transportation (Berger, 2009). Clearly, the increased complexity was readily available to everyone, small-scale of multimodal transportation options created signage was used to indicate the purpose of a need for new types of signage and more a building. These signs were generally small specifically, wayfinding (Ovenden, 2009) (Berger, sized placards on building frontages or hanging 2009). signs, projecting out from a business’s walls over walkways. In America’s early settlements, In 1900, the Paris Expo Universelle marked a literacy was not widespread, and pictographs change in iconic aspects of the time, a shift were used instead of language on signage. As from the products of industry to environmental literacy grew, words were used more and more marvels such as subways and escalators on signage. (Treu, 2012) became the some of the most novel inventions of the time (Ovenden, 2009) (Berger, 2009). While technology advanced in the world, The shift from a general fascination with the transportation options grew in Europe and product to marvels of the urban environment, the United States. Horse drawn carriages presented a new paradigm in societies in evolved to horse drawn streetcars, and later Europe and the United States. This time electrification developed, as did electric period created a newfound need and care for streetcars, automobiles, railroads, and environmental design and the need for more subway systems. By the Early 20th century, intentional signage and wayfinding (Berger, transportation system services were urban, 2009) (Ovenden, 2009). regional, and long distance, with many different service providers for each distance and mode of Signage fabrication styles evolved over time. travel. (Berger, 2009) Projecting signs were initially popular, but as mobility became pertinent to everyday Signage for these many systems primarily life and streetcars and automobiles came existed exclusively in conjunction with their to city centers, higher visibility signs were architecture. Station buildings hosted all needed (Treu, 2012). Railroads made more 12 The Importance of Signage & Branding materials readily available on a broader market. influenced signage. Internationally, Bauhaus, a Accessibility to new technologies in sign making German art school that melded function and influenced evolving signage styles around the design, helped signage become more widely country and abroad (Treu, 2012). incorporated into design (Whitford, 1994). The Bauhaus movement urged for architecture, While there were movements influencing the furniture, signage, painting, murals, advertising, junction of architecture and signage, there were typography and more to be designed others that disjointed the two. Many businesses harmoniously (Berger, 2009). adopted electrification, leading to a wide range of signage styles (Treu, 2012). The diversity of The popular French art movement, Art styles could be distracting and overwhelm some Nouveau, also influenced signage in France streets. In some instances, it became difficult to and abroad (BBC, 2012). Art Nouveau, like have a symbiosis between architectural design Bauhaus, was an art form that took shape in and signage. In others, architects embraced various formats. It was used in jewelry design, signage and incorporated it into their deigns architecture, and poster design. In Paris, the Art (Treu, 2012). Nouveau Metro entrances developed by Hector Guimard incorporate signage in design and Some cities wanted to control what was have become iconic symbols of the City (BBC, acceptable in the public realm and created 2012). zoning and building codes, restricting certain architectural design and signage behaviors In London, Harry Beck initially studied to be an (Treu, 2012). In any case, transportation signage engineer, veered from the path of engineering to had to compete with the ever-growing business design graphics for the London Underground. signage in order to stand out on the street In 1933, he designed the most renowned transit (Ovenden, 2009). map in history for the London Underground. He pushed transportation graphics into a Popular signage and wayfinding styles in new realm of legibility by using principles of transportation transcended from a basic engineering to guide his designs (Ovenden, necessity, installed by anonymous sign painters 2009) (Berger, 2009). out of the normal duties of transit agencies, into a graphic art, designed by popular Later, modern art styles, such as those artists of the time. Many artistic movements executed by multi-dimensional designer, Left: The Bauhaus school encorporates signage in architecture Right: Example of competeing signage in history 13 History Comprehensive description of those who operate transportation environmental agencies. Providing reliable service is most graphics for important and engineers and planners usually 1968 Olympics, manage that side of business (EMBARQ, designed by Lance Wyman 2011). Additionally, it is sometimes difficult for transit agencies to justify spending money on graphically designed signage systems. However, transit agencies with well-designed systems are not only more attractive at face Massimo Vignelli, pushed signage and value, but good design has proved to have wayfinding into a category of design that is both important co-benefits. Recognizable and functional and artistic (Berger, 2009) (Shaw, informative design makes for safer transit 2011). Vignelli designed the transportation systems. It can also increase ridership and the signage, graphics and transit map for the New public’s perception of public transportation York subway in 1966 (Vignelli Website). Beck systems (EMBARQ, 2011). and Vignelli masterfully elevated the techniques of transit map designs and public transportation Many agencies have proven that creating a graphics around the world. strong identity through branding their service with graphic design and marketing improves By the 1970s, environmental graphics (a union the perceived total customer experience and of architecture and graphic design), wayfinding, increases ridership, when coupled with well- and iconography were commonplace. (Berger, managed service. (Siikonen, 2006) (Hess & 2009) Environmental graphics emerged as a Bitterman, 2008) Now an integral and valued newer profession made up of many different piece of planning for some transit systems, people with differing backgrounds. Architects, graphic design enhances the service’s visibility industrial engineers, advertising professionals, and popularity. (Siikonen, 2006) It also has the product designers and more participate in the potential to draw customers