Downtown Wayfinding System

[Vision 2025]

I just saw one up on 7th Street and I thought it looked pretty good and many years overdue...

[PonderInc]

They really should have asked for some advice on the abbreviations.  I literally couldn't figure out what Tulsa Comm Col was!  (I thought it was some military thing: colonels and non-comms hanging out together talking about communications?) TCC Metro would have been great. (Especially since everyone calls it TCC.)  And the Perf Arts Center makes me think of perforations, pervs and perps....but not the PAC. (Most people call it the PAC, anyway.)  Too bad it's not the Nerf Arts Center.  That sounds fun!

[Renaissance]

quote:Originally posted by PonderInc

They really should have asked for some advice on the abbreviations.  I literally couldn't figure out what Tulsa Comm Col was!  (I thought it was some military thing: colonels and non-comms hanging out together talking about communications?) TCC Metro would have been great. (Especially since everyone calls it TCC.)  And the Perf Arts Center makes me think of perforations, pervs and perps....but not the PAC. (Most people call it the PAC, anyway.)  Too bad it's not the Nerf Arts Center.  That sounds fun!

I like the sign design but I completely agree about the abbreviations.  And the font--did we contract the venue designations to ODOT?  They look like directional signs on the highway.

[TheArtist]

The signs do look nice and are nice to have downtown...  But come on, those abbreviations are beyond absurd. Zeeeesh. Someone picked the wrong, uncreative, bureaucrat to come up with what went on the signs lol. I can almost just sense, the kind of person and personality that did that. We all know the type and have run into them before. Probably tried really hard, was well intentioned, but had the common sense and creative ability, the "unable to read and gauge the average persons response" ability" "and wouldnt think it was a priority anyway", of a log. lol

[bacjz00]

I think the signs look great.  I wouldn't worry too much about the font or the abbreviations guys.  

In the end they're meant to "guide" people around, not provide route to route directions to their destination.  They're simple but effective in communicating the general direction of the few major attractions we do have.

[TheArtist]

I don't know.... I dont know how I am going to sleep tonight thinking about the font choice and those horrible abbreviations. I mean, this city is surely doomed.

[Red Arrow]

quote:Originally posted by TheArtist

I don't know.... I dont know how I am going to sleep tonight thinking about the font choice and those horrible abbreviations. I mean, this city is surely doomed.

Turn on the television and grab a mass produced beverage and snack of your choice. As you sink into your favorite chair consuming your goodies and watching the tube, you will realize there are worse things than a plain font and bad abbreviations. If nothing else, the show you are watching and the food and drink you are consuming.

[PonderInc]

It's just another example of good intentions with clueless implementation.  I like the one I saw today, where the new "parking" sign blocks the content of the new "wayfinding" sign that's a few feet behind it.

[janle]

You guys seem to be way too forgiving about the abbreviations. Why use abbreviations at all? Is Tulsa too cheap to spend the money to simply spell out the words in full?

[Hoss]

quote:Originally posted by janle

You guys seem to be way too forgiving about the abbreviations. Why use abbreviations at all? Is Tulsa too cheap to spend the money to simply spell out the words in full?

Yeah, to just see those signs be as big as billboards?

Try putting 'One Technology Center' in full on a sign and let me know how that works out for ya!

[sgrizzle]

quote:Originally posted by PonderInc

It's just another example of good intentions with clueless implementation.  I like the one I saw today, where the new "parking" sign blocks the content of the new "wayfinding" sign that's a few feet behind it.

I saw that one. Of course the parking sign is about 1/5th the size of the wayfinding one so it's not really obscuring too bad.


What I want to know is what is the Civic Center and who is going? I saw a sign listing directions for:
City/County Offices
Convention Center
BOK Center
Civic Center

So if the Civic Center doesn't include the city/county offices or the convention center what does that leave? Shouldn't they just say "Library?"

[TheTed]

A bunch of these signs have Bartlett Square listed. Are there really any visitors looking for this Bartlett Square? The only thing there is a really crappy daytime-only fountain, a bank and a restaurant that's open 15 hours a week.

If someone were looking for something in that vicinity, would directions to Bartlett Square even help? They'd be looking for Fifth and Main, not this mythical "square" that you'd only know is there by looking at the side of the fountain.

I've not seen any of the signs pointing to the Blue Dome or to the Brady district. Those would seem to be far more helpful, places that people might actually want to find.

Also, we better order about 100 more of those public parking signs if we're pointing out every parking lot that the public can park in downtown.

[TheArtist]

There are occasional music events, Mayfest, etc. type things in and around Bartlett Square.

[EricP]

Yeah, I noticed no signage for the Blue Dome or Brady District...... yet they have huge areas mapped out on the little maps they have here and there. pancakes?

[TheTed]

quote:Originally posted by TheArtist

There are occasional music events, Mayfest, etc. type things in and around Bartlett Square.

They are few and far between. The number of people coming downtown and looking for the Blue Dome District has to completely dwarf the number looking for Bartlett Square.