Signs Seen South

Here are some photos of signage seen on the annual Standard Designs Graphical Research Expedition, which some people still refer to as a holiday but pfft, what do they know - I'm always working.

This year's Expedition was to the Isle of Wight, and much of the best & most interesting signage was to be found at the local Steam Railway. It's incredibly well-run and well-preserved, with huge amounts to interest those with an interest in graphic design, typography and time travel (mind you, the whole Isle of Wight fits that latter category, as there's a certain yesterdayness about the whole place). The cottages on the way in to the railway all had concrete numbers outside them. Much more impressive than the typical brass numbers bought from a DIY shop.

Inside one of the workshops where restoration works-in-progress were on display was this rather alarmingly named 'Nuclear Fred' engine. I didn't have my Geiger counter on my, so I couldn't verify the claim.

The lion in the old British Railways crest looks distinctly unhappy to be there. And those numerals look like they won't stand for much messing either.

The super type on this goods wagon is set off nicely by the grey background - grey proving itself once again to be the most indispensable colour.

Nothing says the 1950s more than an information poster printed in a single shade of green. 

Talking of green, here's the classic combination of gree, white and red that instantly evokes someone with Brylcreem'd hair in a thick single-breasted suit shouting 'You - yes you - don't do that. Now, clear off'.

Finally, from the real to the also-real-but-smaller, this carriage in amongst the hundreds in the humongous model railway in Yarmouth stood out for its utter simplicity. I'd like to think this design was from the 1970s, but who knows, the way design ideas go around it might be from last week.