Because the big issue worrying everyone these days is … highway sign legibility!
Worry no more. The Feds have given interim approval to a new highway sign font, cunningly named Clearview. It’s an interim approval, and states are not required to adopt it, but I’m torn between the font geek in me thinking, Cool, and the rest of me thinking, Big flipping deal.
The designer assures us that studies show Clearview (on the left, compared to FHWA E-modified “Highway Gothic”) is much more legible at distance. This is increased by designing signs to use mixed case instead of all-caps. It’s also supposed to be a lot more visible when blurry or over-reflected.
One thing for sure — it will make our signs look a lot more European. Which is not a bad thing, to be honest.
Okay, I admit it — it’s cool.
You can buy the font yourself for only a mere $800. Beat the rush! Get a legit copy, before folks start making cheap knock-offs!
(via J-Walk and Typographica)
Nice font. I would like to have for word.
I like that the open area is bigger.
Though it will still frell with those of us with astigmatims.
The cheap knock-off of the existing highway typeface, by the way, is called “Blue Highway.”