One of my hobbies is signage and signage systems. As such, I create “real fake signs” to see if I can make existing signs look better. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. Here are some examples of things I’ve done. Not all of them are final products, and they are all rough (I’m not a graphic designer), but I like to think they’re a good indicator of what things could look like.
Sign for the base of the stairs near Petrie in Steacie to guide people through the tunnels at York. This is an example of a real fake York sign. (Also, I did read York’s signage manuals, inside and out, because I’m a nerd.)
If you look closely, you’ll see this sign uses the wrong font: it’s in Franklin Gothic Book, which is close, but not quite right (especially the “1”).
Tunnels? York has a small network of maintenance tunnels connecting the older buildings that are open to the public. They wind a bit and so are not as direct as the surface routes, but they can be handy to avoid snow and rain. The math club (of all places) had a map, but it has been archived.
Entering closed tunnels can be grounds for expulsion or trespassing charges.
Danger can lurk in the tunnels at night. Travelling at night (after ~8pm) is only recommended in groups.
Union streetcar signs as people get confused knowing what streetcar to get for the ferries (any streetcar) and how to find the streetcar platform (it's at the back of the Yonge Line platform).
Updated overhead sign for Sheppard West (formerlyDownsview), as Downsview used to have retro-future overhead directional signs that were covered up for the TYSSE as they were now wrong.
Better signs for Sheppard-Yonge that won’t leave you hanging if you’re looking for the buses. Includes map (as this is the only way to design coherent signage). Not complete, and I’m not satisfied with my implementation of Line 4 signage on the Yonge platform. I think it should only be at the base of stairwells and escalators.
An example of what directional signs on GO platforms could look like (in the style of the subway directional signs). This is useful for stations on the LE line, where riders just want to take the first train to Toronto. Now they know.
Steeles Av W traffic signal street sign. More-or-less the correct font (Clearview – although I think Toronto condenses theirs for some reason) and colour.
For more on why Sheppard signs should never have existed and are probably the worst signs ever to grace the walls of the TTC, see: Type in the Toronto Subway23, by Joe Clark. ↩