For some reason, when I think of urban typography, I most often think of graffiti. But since graffiti happened to be its own category of type to find, I went a little literal in my finding of "urban" typography.
This type can be found on the TriMet MAX train stop in Portland, Oregon on the southbound side. This is the PSU Urban Center & SW 5th & Mill Street. This stop is one of the many servicing Portland State University.
I figured how more urban can you get than a public transportation sign? Granted, the green line, I believe it is, was recently added and runs out into the suburbs.
But when I think public transportation, I think city, I think clean, I think concise, I think simple (and yet oh so complex). I think business, I think commerce, I think travel. I think street signs and lamp posts, the random tree planted in a slab of cement. I think bold (colors) yet the classic black suit. These are the ideas and images that I relate to the idea of urbanity, and therefore, to urban typography.
The City of Portland seems to always stick with clean, sans-serif, helvetica-like fonts. This TriMet sign is a great example.
ReplyDeleteI think this a great example of Urban type! Of course typeface choices are important here as well, it must be easy to read and large enough to be noticed. Transportation signs make a city run smoothly, and without them everyone would be lost, literally!
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