Graphic Design Investigation Task 3 Research

I have been looking at road signs in Leeds city center. On the way home from Morrisons I photographed every road sign I came across. This will help me identify the ways that signs convey their desired message. The colours and shapes of signs are significant I will identify the differences between them.

 Here is a No Entry sign I came across, Red signs are used to warn drivers this simple red circle with a line through it is globally recognized.

 Here is a sign I came across, green is used to represent directional signs. It is simple and bold, the white arrow gives it that final touch.

 Here is another warning sign displaying only text, the text is clear and easy to read. it is spaced out at a good distance making it legible and informative.

 Here is another warning Sign I came across, the sign represents no right turn, this simple icon represents that really well, the red line through the right turn obviously means NO DON'T DO IT!

 This isn't a road sign but I thought it was quite a nice example of Directional signage. The pole informs you about many different directions and is laid out well.

 Yet another Directional sign, this time on a larger scale. The simple imagery displays the possible routes coming up, it is bold and easy to read. There are only a few colours used and generally the same colours are used for similar roads, for example A roads in yellow.

 Blue Signs are used to inform the viewer.

 Informative

 Directional

 Warning Signs are usually Triangular

 The white P in the blue square is globally recognized for parking, I think its amazing how we have this kind of visual language that everyone can understand and appreciate.

  Here is another example of great design. The dead end sign is pretty self explanatory. The red line at the end obviously relates to a warning and it looks like a dead end even with this simple image.

Internet Research on Road Signs and Meanings

I looked on the internet to find the meanings behind signs, he is the research i found:

Triangular signs

Triangular signs are used as warnings - junctions ahead, road conditions, hazards ahead and so on. A black symbol appears on a white equilateral triangle (pointing upwards) with a thick red border. The usual warning that a road does not have priority at a junction reads "Give Way" and is an inverted triangle. 

Circular signs

Sometimes referred to as "roundels", circular signs give orders. White circles with thick red borders and black symbols give negative instructions - things you must NOT do. Blue circles with thin white borders and white symbols give positive instructions - things you MUST do.

Rectangular signs

Written information is relayed using rectangular signs. These come in many different colours and sizes.

What font is used?

There are two alphabets used on all road signs, which are "Transport Medium" and "Transport Heavy". These are differently weighted versions of the same typeface; "Transport Medium" has a thinner stroke width and is used for light text on a dark background, while "Transport Heavy" has a thicker stroke width and is used for dark text on light backgrounds. Both were adapted from an existing typeface by graphic artist Jock Kinneir in the early 1960s.

Kinneir actually designed a third typeface to complete the set, called Transport Light, which was intended for use on internally lit signs. It was never adopted.

What is the taller font used on motorway signs?

 

for most of the sign text. However, because Motorway signing was developed separately, a different style is used for the road numbers on motorways; it appears taller than other letters.Both motorway and all-purpose road signs use the same "Transport" alphabets. This different lettering is called "Motorway Permanent"

How does the colour coding work?

Directional signs on different classes of road use different background colours to allow motorists to easily tell between different types of road and information.

Blue signs

Blue signs with white text and white borders are found on motorways, where all direction signing uses this colour scheme.

On non-motorway roads, the same colour scheme is occasionally used for signs bearing miscellaneous written information (such as advance warnings of weight restrictions). They are also used for direction signs for pedestrians and cyclists (which are always accompanied by a pedestrian or cycle symbol).

Green signs

Primary A-roads use green-backed signs, with white borders and text, and route numbers highlighted in gold. Green signs with white text but yellow borders are occasionally seen marking emergency services access points to places like airports and stadiums.

White signs

Signs with a white background are used on non-primary roads, with black text and black borders. Until 1994 there was an additional set that used black text and blue borders for 'local' directions, but these are now being phased out.

White signs also exist with other colour combinations. Those with black text and red borders, for example, are used for directions to Ministry of Defence sites.

Devonshire County Council has a unique system to signpost its minor routes. White signs with no border and all-capitals black text indicate the most minor routes suitable for local traffic; white signs with brown borders and mixed-case black text indicate roads suitable for light traffic; white signs with blue borders and mixed-case black text (the same as those phased out elsewhere since 1994) indicate roads suitable for general traffic.

Yellow signs

Temporary signs, such as diversion routes or direction signs through roadworks, have black text on a yellow background. Recently black-on-yellow signs have been erected in a small number of locations on motorways to draw attention to unusual junction layouts, but this is not standard practice and technically is not permitted. 

Brown signs

Tourist attractions are signed using brown-backed signs with white text and borders. Most also include a small pictogram to represent the attraction (a silhouette of an elephant for directions to a zoo, or of a football for directions to a stadium, for example).

Black signs

Directions for Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) appear in white on black, usually with a pictogram of a lorry to make clear who the sign applies to.

Information found at : http://www.cbrd.co.uk/roadsfaq/