Reply To: Alternatives to the tired old ‘park information signs”?

Rather than the signs being the problem, I think its the content and quantity. We tend to over-sign things, thus my comment about getting a LEED point for putting in a sign next to every “eco-gutter,” no matter how small. They are everywhere…every project. Frankly, no one cares. You’ve see one, you seen them all according to the general public. It made sense when the designed systems were unique, but no longer.

We tend to think everything is important, so let’s make a sign about it! I’m not sure if I like the “call this number” stuff, as it eats batteries now that smartphones get 5 minutes to the hour of charge. Personally, I couldn’t be bothered to call the number. The iPod thing, however, I do like. As I am meticulous in my travel preparations, it works very well. You just have to make sure you keep the sequence, and some have been confusing. They still need a paper guide for a map, and are excellent in drive-through parks like Gettysburg or Valley Forge. Both disrupt my Vivaldi while strolling through the National Gallery. There, them little signs make sense, and the iPod is a must (surprisingly noisy place…people cannot behave themselves anymore, especially the guards). 

That being said, we still do need signage in places, but we must choose wisely. A good printed guide is still the best way to convey information, and you can take it with you. Perhaps the future lies in tablet apps or PDFs where you don’t need WiFi or 4G signal, and can be interactive for the kiddos. Download before you get there, and have at it! Patent Pending…