Hindsight is 20/20 and Typeface So Good You Can Taste It

Signage/clock face in Portland's Pearl District.

At first glance, it's a cool clock. An interesting signage piece that is integral to its function. Good design move, one might be inclined to think to oneself or speak aloud to uninterested passersby. Then, the double take: What.....does....that.....sign.......say..........???

UR BLUE HO

Wtf? I mean, clearly, it's for a restaurant called Blue Hour, once you peer at the street level signage. But, circular text is tricky. Where to start/end? Will it work? Will people get it? That all depends. Though we read clocks from the Twelve position back around, we don't read text from top back around. We read text left to right. In the U.S., that is. The main problem here is they are trying to do too many things. Not only is the sign illegible, the hands can barely be seen behind the milky panel, making the time unreadable as well! Maybe making the two words different colors would have helped. But let's not get into that. In short, this is poor execution on the part of the Blue Ho! That is your name as far as I'm concerned. But according to them, I DA HO. So, there it is. They're insulting potential restaurant patrons. Good one.

Signage for Saint Cupcake from the inside.

Cupcakes are all the rage these days.  But with something that has such strong ties to nostalgia and cutesiness, there is great danger in the design of such a shop to induce vomiting with their graphic choices. (Perhaps cupcake typeface is worthy of a dedicated post! Stay tuned.) But not so here! We're just going to have to say it:  Fontomonopoeia!  The Saint did it right. Good work. God would be proud.

Until Next Time,

Font Police

For Nostalgia's Sake

So you think you can win us over with a dose of nostalgia, do ya? Sure, we grew up on lame birthday parties at the laser tag arena. And Teen Wolf (some may argue both the original and the sequel) is a classic in our minds and hearts. But you think that is enough to convince us to eat at your fine dining establishments? Well, for the desperately hungry, no convincing is really ever necessary. But for the discerning diner with a penchant for aesthetics and a graphically-inclined appetite (presentation is important, after all) and the curiously un-opinionated, here are my thoughts from the heart...

Dear McDonald's,

Are you serious? You are a (some may argue the) major big, bad corporation in the universe and you have deviated from the graphic standard of the McDonald's logo and typeface. Sure, you will still have drones of people come into your restaurant, but in passing your Seattle store on Madison Avenue, it confused me. What was the meaning of this? I'll keep this to a three-pointer:

1. You're deviating from standard protocol. That's not like you. Hopefully, you've learned your lesson. 

2. This Teen Wolf Typeface is neither appropriate for McDonald's nor any illuminated sign that was fabricated in some warehouse and installed on site by a contractor...and not actually brushed on the side of the building. It looks like an all-too elaborate tagging extravaganza.

3. It's ugly. I hope you canned the individual that even suggested such a move.

You're welcome.

Sincerely,

Font Police.

Teen Wolf inspired McDonald's Signage in Seattle.

Next...

Dear Brothers BBQ,

I have to be completely honest. In my years residing in Denver, I would drive past your 6th Avenue location many-a-time. As much as I love a good BBQ (and trust me, the aromas emitting from this location infiltrated the entire neighborhood and often enticed me), I resisted. For four years. Resisted even entering your establishment. Why? I'll tell you why. Because I was afraid. Afraid that my expectations for some delicious BBQ pulled pork would be met only with the disappointment and embarrassment of walking into a a dark room, getting strapped with a bullet-proof-ish vest-like garment, handed a fake gun and thrown into an obstacle course of shooting in a room filled with guests of a middle-school birthday party! A nightmare of mine, on many levels. 

Eventually, I did try your restaurant, and much to my relief there was no tagging with lasers, thankfully. But I have to say, I only went there because it was the closest available place to eat while waiting for the next show at the Esquire. I implore you, dear Brothers B, please do yourself (and every potential new customer) a favor and change your logo. It'll do you good.

You're welcome.

Sincerely,

Font Police

Laser tag inspired Brothers BBQ in Denver.

(photo cred: Agent Kerning)

Until next time....

Font Police