Heard of Chatype? Like it?

[Jasper Kent]

Never thought much fuss would be made about a typeface, but apparently this is kind of a big deal. At least to some Chattanoogans and a lot of font fans:

http://www.core77.com/blog/kickstarter/kickstarter_project_chatype_chattanoogas_new_visual_identity_21757.asp

What do you think?

[Al Bundy]

Font does nothing for me. Make it readable is all I ask. Not capitalizing properly seems so low class to me.

[Silver Tyger]

I can see the influences on the font, which isn't a bad thing. It seems well designed, but nothing special.

Not capitalizing properly seems so low class to me.

I'm not sure about lower class, but frikking trendy. It'll look really dated in ten years. And I think using it on the roads (as the example for the bike lane) is a bad idea - but just because they're presenting it that way doesn't mean it'll happen.

[fubbleskag]

the idea of this catching on and cities all around the country (world?) coming up with their own typeface is intriguing (albeit unlikely)

[Rachellelogram]

What's wrong with this picture (http://i.imgur.com/B1YJi.png)? 3 guesses, but you'll only need one. The point of road signs and painting on streets is to be as readable as possible to accommodate poor conditions and people who don't read English very well. Thinking the best font for this job is 1) serif and 2) non-capitalized is freaking DUMB.

[Jasper Kent]

What's wrong with this picture (http://i.imgur.com/B1YJi.png)? 3 guesses, but you'll only need one. The point of road signs and painting on streets is to be as readable as possible to accommodate poor conditions and people who don't read English very well. Thinking the best font for this job is 1) serif and 2) non-capitalized is freaking DUMB.

Good points, but the picture of the bicycle is pretty obvious in any language.

[guizot]

Font does nothing for me. Make it readable is all I ask. Not capitalizing properly seems so low class to me.I can see the influences on the font, which isn't a bad thing. It seems well designed, but nothing special. . . It'll look really dated in ten years. And I think using it on the roads (as the example for the bike lane) is a bad idea - .The point isn't really about the particular characteristics of the font.

Rather, the point is simply to have it omnipresent. People will come to associate it with the city, to the point where you can identify Chattanooga from any photo with a sign in it. When people leave town for a while, and come back to Chattanooga, they'll experience a subconscious sense of being "at home," and "in the right place."

[Silver Tyger]

What's wrong with this picture (http://i.imgur.com/B1YJi.png)? 3 guesses, but you'll only need one. The point of road signs and painting on streets is to be as readable as possible to accommodate poor conditions and people who don't read English very well. Thinking the best font for this job is 1) serif and 2) non-capitalized is freaking DUMB.

I'm assuming, for sanity's sake, that when it comes to actually use this the road people will say that using it on the asphalt is illegal.

There are several towns in California where street signs are in a certain color and font (some of them less legible than this one). I can't see the average person being able to distinguish a font closely enough that just that will be associated with something. (In my experience, to most people there is Times New Roman, Arial, Papyrus, and Comic Sans.)

The whole things seems a bit silly to me, but I don't live there and it's not my decision.

[BigT]

My question is: how many fonts actually do well over time? We have a few that have lasted, and the rest seem to disappear. The most distinctive looking ones are usually the first on the chopping block. This font, even if not used on roadways, it going to look dated rather quickly. Sure, people will think of the city when they see the font, but that association will soon be a negative one.

[jackdavinci]

I do think it would be cool if towns all had their own typefaces.

[Ephemera]

I live in the Chattanooga metro area. I think it's neat.

[Reply]

Think the idea of regional typefaces is great.

That font is ugly and already looks dated. $10,000? What a rip-off. "the m.l.king" sign is hard to read too.

But I love the layout and colors of the signs.