Project One
Effective Design
This is a sign located at the Holmenkollen ski jump in Oslo, Norway. The graphics on this sign describe the evolution of the historic ski jump throughout its history. This is situated next to the ski jump, where one can see the elevation of the structure in the same direction as it is depicted on the sign. Visitors of the ski jump and its museum can at look at the history of the ski jump and the iconic tourist sight at once from standing next to the sign. The sign carries very limited information with a small set of colors and a uniform graphic style, and little text (the year in which each version of the ski jump was built and their respective height). The sign reads from left to right and from top-down, as it is normal in the Norwegian culture, going from the first ski jump in 1892 to the current 2010 ski jump. The sign was effective for me because of how controlled the message and the design elements are. The profile is also reduced to the simplest possible form by using just a few lines and line weights. The only other written information provided, except of the “HOPP HOPP HURRA!” and the Holmenkollen Ski Jump logo is the height in meters underneath each year which makes the information and layout very concise and simple. The clear difference in the colors is also very effective, in which white is used for the profile of the first structure, and the profile of the next new structure is drawn in black, on top of the first white line. The fact that the black of the new designs seems to pop out more than the white on the bright blue background adds to establishing hierarchy in the communication.
Ineffective Design
The bus sign is used to identify the stop location for driver and rider, designate the buses that stop there, and the direction of the buses. However, the current design is ineffective for both the riders and drivers in communicating these messages. The size of the current sign is small, making them difficult to spot and are mounted on steel poles or screwed onto an existing lamppost or utility pole that are way above an adult’s eye height, so one has to tilt his or her head up to first locate the sign and to read it. The small size and the lack of light on many of these signs also make it hard for the drivers to spot people who are waiting underneath them at night. Poor legibility results from the sign’s size, its font size, and the lack of images or excess of text. Also, the lack of information on these signs, including direction, stop identification, and rider orientation makes the design ineffective. There is no hierarchy in the text, so the bus number is not distinguished from its route. The words “Bus Stop” is larger but it is less effective in catching the eye than having a graphic icon. The identification number exists on the sign but it is hidden at the top corner and it is not designated as the ID number. I think this design can benefit from enlarging the overall size and adding more visual elements such as a map or a line-and-tick route graphics.
