Design
A short history of the ‘Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas’ sign: Second in a SmartSign blog series on famous signs and their origins
The ‘Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas’ sign is one of the most historic Las Vegas landmarks, built in 1959. The sign sits in the median at 5100 Las Vegas Boulevard South, which, interestingly enough, is outside of the city limits and in the town of Paradise. This is also considered to be the official Southern […]
A short history of New York City subway signage: First in a SmartSign blog series on famous signs and their origins
The New York City subway is a symbol of New York. For over a hundred years, the subway has transported New Yorkers and visitors alike through New York’s urban canyons. Its signage is simple, elegant, and iconic, a beacon of calm in New York’s chaos. But the signs haven’t always been that way. Originally, there […]
How kids use landmarks to find their way
It’s tough to develop a mental map unless you can rely on landmarks and wayfinding tools to anchor your route. Adults increasingly rely on GPS, rendering the art of manual wayfinding less common than it was a decade ago. But children in the six- to ten-year-old age group might be old enough to be entrusted […]
Appealing graphics and icons simplify tough tasks
We’ve all heard that picture is worth a thousand words. As it turns out, an image may also be worth a few milliseconds of valuable time. A study published in The Psychonomic Bulletin & Review found that eye-catching, appealing graphics on a mobile app or website promoted users’ ability to perform difficult tasks more quickly and […]
Toronto’s new pedestrian wayfinding signage
Toronto is poised to make it a whole lot easier for pedestrians and cyclists to navigate the city’s downtown core. The city is piloting the Toronto 360 Wayfinding Strategy, which features maps, signs, and electronic components aimed at helping non-motorists get around town. Be honest: Have you ever been wandering around on foot and pulled […]
Researchers claim that packing action into road signs will prevent accidents
Road signs are everywhere. Most of us couldn’t begin to count how many we see every single day. And this constant exposure starts long before we even secure a drivers license. That means that, even for new drivers, signs advising us to yield, stop, or look out for pedestrians are merely part of the landscape. […]
Adaptable wayfinding graphics strengthen brand
You are sadly mistaken and far behind the times if you still think a sign is nothing more than a message printed on sheet metal. These days, signs are metaphorically malleable. They’re changeable. Their messages can be adjusted based on ever-shifting needs. Case in point: the graphics created by Aion Solutions, an Indiana-based branding company, […]