Comments on: Clearview: A New Typeface for US Highways http://typographica.org/2004/on-typography/clearview-a-new-typeface-for-us-highways/ A journal of typography with a focus on typeface reviews. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 04:53:04 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Clearview blows http://typographica.org/2004/on-typography/clearview-a-new-typeface-for-us-highways/#comment-38714 Clearview blows Thu, 15 Apr 2010 00:42:56 +0000 http://new.typographica.org/archives/clearview-a-new-typeface-for-us-highways/#comment-38714 "Clearview" stinks. I'm a Professional Transportation Engineer and "highway enthusiast", age 44. I've been a highway sign buff ever since I was around 2 years old. The new small "l" helps over the old "l" which could be mistaken for a capital I. Otherwise, I don't see the big improvement, and it looks fussier and less clean- I don't enjoy looking at it as much as before. The auxiliary words/action messages and numbers are too small and thin (such as EXIT 206 or 1/2 MILE). The shrunken capital letters are too small- they look horrible. “Clearview” stinks. I’m a Professional Transportation Engineer and “highway enthusiast”, age 44. I’ve been a highway sign buff ever since I was around 2 years old. The new small “l” helps over the old “l” which could be mistaken for a capital I. Otherwise, I don’t see the big improvement, and it looks fussier and less clean- I don’t enjoy looking at it as much as before. The auxiliary words/action messages and numbers are too small and thin (such as EXIT 206 or 1/2 MILE). The shrunken capital letters are too small- they look horrible.

]]> By: Bob http://typographica.org/2004/on-typography/clearview-a-new-typeface-for-us-highways/#comment-38343 Bob Sun, 19 Jul 2009 22:00:46 +0000 http://new.typographica.org/archives/clearview-a-new-typeface-for-us-highways/#comment-38343 This is nothing more than change for change's sake. The developers claim that the Clearview font is easier to read and less goofy. Of course they do! They're the developers. That curled l looks dumb. All they've done is made a bazillion bucks to change a font that looks pretty much like what Europe has used. Personally, if you have trouble reading Highway Gothic signs, you shouldn't be on the road in the first place! Bring back the old font and button copy and everyone can see the signs just fine. This is nothing more than change for change’s sake. The developers claim that the Clearview font is easier to read and less goofy. Of course they do! They’re the developers. That curled l looks dumb. All they’ve done is made a bazillion bucks to change a font that looks pretty much like what Europe has used.

Personally, if you have trouble reading Highway Gothic signs, you shouldn’t be on the road in the first place! Bring back the old font and button copy and everyone can see the signs just fine.

]]> By: Chip http://typographica.org/2004/on-typography/clearview-a-new-typeface-for-us-highways/#comment-38317 Chip Mon, 29 Jun 2009 15:19:59 +0000 http://new.typographica.org/archives/clearview-a-new-typeface-for-us-highways/#comment-38317 Finally. someone who is not afraid to talk about the Emperor's New Clothes. Thank you Mark. I know you posted this a long time ago but I just found this site. >the stop sign is never going to be able to be seen easily again along with other important roadsigns if the stupid “one capital letter the rest lowercase” rule is adopted. All caps - which is how things used to be - were clear, stood out, got your attention and therefore did what they were supposed to do: quickly convey information that registers with the driver. All caps SHOUTS for my attention amid everything else that can and does distract a driver. The "One capital letter and rest lowercase" is not grabbing my attention - I have to go after it and then try to very quickly assimilate what its trying to tell me. Finally. someone who is not afraid to talk about the Emperor’s New Clothes. Thank you Mark. I know you posted this a long time ago but I just found this site.

>the stop sign is never going to be able to be seen easily again along with other important roadsigns if the stupid “one capital letter the rest lowercase” rule is adopted.

All caps – which is how things used to be – were clear, stood out, got your attention and therefore did what they were supposed to do: quickly convey information that registers with the driver. All caps SHOUTS for my attention amid everything else that can and does distract a driver. The “One capital letter and rest lowercase” is not grabbing my attention – I have to go after it and then try to very quickly assimilate what its
trying to tell me.

]]> By: Magellan http://typographica.org/2004/on-typography/clearview-a-new-typeface-for-us-highways/#comment-35979 Magellan Mon, 02 Mar 2009 22:25:59 +0000 http://new.typographica.org/archives/clearview-a-new-typeface-for-us-highways/#comment-35979 I agree that the new font is ugly. I have racked up nearly 400,000 miles of driving and 40 states visited. Over the past year I have seen the new font in several states, and I just don't like it. I am finding it more difficult to distinguish the l's, i's, h's d's, h's, and a's from distance, yet have no trouble with the existing Blue Highway font. By the time I can read the new font, I am too close to the sign to make a travel decision. I agree that the new font is ugly. I have racked up nearly 400,000 miles of driving and 40 states visited. Over the past year I have seen the new font in several states, and I just don’t like it. I am finding it more difficult to distinguish the l’s, i’s, h’s d’s, h’s, and a’s from distance, yet have no trouble with the existing Blue Highway font. By the time I can read the new font, I am too close to the sign to make a travel decision.

]]> By: Kent C http://typographica.org/2004/on-typography/clearview-a-new-typeface-for-us-highways/#comment-35978 Kent C Sun, 01 Mar 2009 22:10:24 +0000 http://new.typographica.org/archives/clearview-a-new-typeface-for-us-highways/#comment-35978 Now, if we could only get the FHWA to adopt the European practice where each lane of traffic is displayed with its own line and arrowhead (forward driving direction pointing upward), with merges and exits as branches, as though one were reading them on a map, instead of trying to point inexactly at the lanes below. Now, if we could only get the FHWA to adopt the European practice where each lane of traffic is displayed with its own line and arrowhead (forward driving direction pointing upward), with merges and exits as branches, as though one were reading them on a map, instead of trying to point inexactly at the lanes below.

]]> By: PaulMmn http://typographica.org/2004/on-typography/clearview-a-new-typeface-for-us-highways/#comment-35977 PaulMmn Sun, 15 Feb 2009 19:28:33 +0000 http://new.typographica.org/archives/clearview-a-new-typeface-for-us-highways/#comment-35977 The problem with the 'old' font is easy to see with some letter combinations: . ILL, for example, is 3 vertical strokes. What word is -that-? That's why the lower-case "L" has a curl-- to differentiate it from the upper-case I or the numeral 1. . There are other, equally good examples of bad combinations! . As for the cost of re-signing-- you don't have to replace -every- sign all-at-once! There are a lot of signs replaced every year because of damage-- either the wind blew them down, or a car took them out. More are installed 'new,' and some are changed to reflect new conditions. . Yes, it will be a mixture for a long time. But all it takes is for the State Sign Service to replace one set of typefaces with another! The problem with the ‘old’ font is easy to see with some letter combinations:
.
ILL, for example, is 3 vertical strokes. What word is -that-? That’s why the lower-case “L” has a curl– to differentiate it from the upper-case I or the numeral 1.
.
There are other, equally good examples of bad combinations!
.
As for the cost of re-signing– you don’t have to replace -every- sign all-at-once! There are a lot of signs replaced every year because of damage– either the wind blew them down, or a car took them out. More are installed ‘new,’ and some are changed to reflect new conditions.
.
Yes, it will be a mixture for a long time. But all it takes is for the State Sign Service to replace one set of typefaces with another!

]]> By: britta http://typographica.org/2004/on-typography/clearview-a-new-typeface-for-us-highways/#comment-35976 britta Thu, 12 Feb 2009 22:17:40 +0000 http://new.typographica.org/archives/clearview-a-new-typeface-for-us-highways/#comment-35976 Driving through PA over Thanksgiving I noticed the new signs and my reaction was more-or-less "meh". It seems slightly easier to read than the old one, but I don't think we're going to see some dramatic difference in...say...the # of auto accidents. Have you ever noticed how similar the words (in all caps Gothic [?]) EAST and WEST appear? The Clearview font will hopefully help that problem somewhat. Although...I HATE the curled lower-case Ls. Dunno why...they just look goofy to my eye/brain. My main concern is the illustration where the Ave/St/Pkwy/etc. is about 10% SMALLER than it is now. I've driven around in developments and office parks where ALL the roads have the same name but different endings. It's hard enough trying to read them as they are now, without making that portion smaller. Driving through PA over Thanksgiving I noticed the new signs and my reaction was more-or-less “meh”. It seems slightly easier to read than the old one, but I don’t think we’re going to see some dramatic difference in…say…the # of auto accidents.

Have you ever noticed how similar the words (in all caps Gothic [?]) EAST and WEST appear? The Clearview font will hopefully help that problem somewhat.

Although…I HATE the curled lower-case Ls. Dunno why…they just look goofy to my eye/brain.

My main concern is the illustration where the Ave/St/Pkwy/etc. is about 10% SMALLER than it is now. I’ve driven around in developments and office parks where ALL the roads have the same name but different endings. It’s hard enough trying to read them as they are now, without making that portion smaller.

]]> By: erik http://typographica.org/2004/on-typography/clearview-a-new-typeface-for-us-highways/#comment-35975 erik Tue, 10 Feb 2009 06:43:28 +0000 http://new.typographica.org/archives/clearview-a-new-typeface-for-us-highways/#comment-35975 1st I'm appalled by mark's comments. 2nd, I live in the bay area, and the last thing we need is a new font, the 1st thing we need is a damn system that specifies where to put a sign, period! Consistency was not even a considered element. Signs are placed on buildings, walls, street lights, free standing poles, and the list does go on... make up your mind, please! 3rd amazing effort on James's part, it's mostly people like Mark who work for the government so you can understand the difficulty in the task. 4th Din is a much nicer font in my opinion, but I'm not sure it is the German highway font. 5th, thanks for the post, still a hot topic 5 years later! 6th I can read either of these fonts just fine, I'm not retarded, and if I were I'm, not sure a sign would point me in the right direction anyways. 7th the iphone combined with gps is the best thing to happen for way finding. You may argue against this as you may, but I beg you to try to find a street that is not even signed. 1st I’m appalled by mark’s comments.

2nd, I live in the bay area, and the last thing we need is a new font, the 1st thing we need is a damn system that specifies where to put a sign, period! Consistency was not even a considered element. Signs are placed on buildings, walls, street lights, free standing poles, and the list does go on… make up your mind, please!

3rd amazing effort on James’s part, it’s mostly people like Mark who work for the government so you can understand the difficulty in the task.

4th Din is a much nicer font in my opinion, but I’m not sure it is the German highway font.

5th, thanks for the post, still a hot topic 5 years later!

6th I can read either of these fonts just fine, I’m not retarded, and if I were I’m, not sure a sign would point me in the right direction anyways.

7th the iphone combined with gps is the best thing to happen for way finding. You may argue against this as you may, but I beg you to try to find a street that is not even signed.

]]> By: Steve http://typographica.org/2004/on-typography/clearview-a-new-typeface-for-us-highways/#comment-35974 Steve Thu, 20 Nov 2008 03:55:44 +0000 http://new.typographica.org/archives/clearview-a-new-typeface-for-us-highways/#comment-35974 I think I like the FHWA fonts better. Clearview seems to just lack the charm they have. Besides, what was just stopping them from improving on the existing fonts instead of this probably-costly new project? I think I like the FHWA fonts better. Clearview seems to just lack the charm they have. Besides, what was just stopping them from improving on the existing fonts instead of this probably-costly new project?

]]> By: Ron http://typographica.org/2004/on-typography/clearview-a-new-typeface-for-us-highways/#comment-35973 Ron Mon, 13 Oct 2008 18:52:20 +0000 http://new.typographica.org/archives/clearview-a-new-typeface-for-us-highways/#comment-35973 I fail to see that the new font is any better. no difference to me!!! I fail to see that the new font is any better.

no difference to me!!!

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