Signage systems

Frequently, significant effort is put into creating an intelligent presentation for a sign that takes into account scientific knowledge about humans' reactive capabilities to typefaces and colors.

This research has produced a design aesthetic of certain fonts that are frequently used (especially humanist sans-serif designs like Frutiger, which was created in 1969 for signage in Paris' Charles de Gaulle Airport.)

One of the most commonly cited examples of a well-designed signage system is the London Underground.

They are instantly recognizable to riders throughout London, are unlikely to be confused with other signage, and can be replicated throughout printed materials, stations, and street-level entrances to provide consistency throughout the entire system.

The typeface used on the signs, New Johnston, was designed in 1913 specifically for the Underground to provide readability at a distance.