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Designer Tyler Smith

Vital Signs

When we asked Providence design guru Tyler Smith (creator of the award-winning Rhode Island license plate) to critique the local signage, we learned that simple is powerful, size is everything and our state has some confidence issues.

 On the left, the existing signage. On the right, a "redesigned" version.

India Point Park Bridge

India Point Park Bridge Providence
“The enormous sign is ridiculous—even the Newport and Jamestown bridges have no big signs. The color is terrible. The fluted concrete background looks cheap. Also, the letters are so thin, it looks like there’s no commitment to making the park a lasting thing.”		 “With the sign saying just India Point Park, the park is the hero, not the bridge. The letters should be half the size, with simple typeface like Optima or Gill Sans, all caps. It should be letter-spaced and centered above the arch. The type could be in silver or gold, but I would like it to be part of the stone. Recessed, simple.”

 

Chace Center - RISD

Chace Building RISD
“The building is fantastic. Then they put the signage on. It’s awkward. The words on the front of the building don’t align with the signage on the side. The classic typeface is nice, but it is crammed together and too big for the allotted space.”		 “The name of the building on the two sides should be aligned and centered in the brick space. They should also be on the same plane so your eye follows from one to the other. The complete solution (not pictured) would include reducing the size of the type and also increasing the space between the letters themselves.”

 

Rhode Island Sign

Welcome to Rhode Island (Route 24 South)
“This is a very important sign. It should have stature. Instead, it’s small and thin, stuck on two pieces of wood. The little wave cartoon is comical. Then they have all these little signs stacked together that say ‘2004 Games’ and things. It makes us look small, like a town blowing its horn.”		 “The sign should be something that looks like it’s there forever. The wave element could be less decorative and more consistent with the abstracted wave on our state license plate. I would use a very simple typeface that doesn’t call attention to itself, that makes the words the most important thing—just two words: Rhode Island. Understated, confident.”

Photos: Jesse Burke. Digital Rendering: Alan Dipetrillo

- March, 2009

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