TGV signage and pictograms, time for a redesign

Signage in the 3rd generation of TGV's needs a serious redesign: two different typefaces are used, one l/c, one U/c and upper and lower mixed, two typefaces for the numerals also. The pictograms are realized in a strange 'sketchy' style, partly in elevation, partly in perspective. The wc symbols are different on the signs and on the doors... '2nde classe' in a calligraphic font is an unusual choice for a high speed train. Oh, and that mobile phone...

Not quite 'Straight on' but a bit to the left...

Spotted this great directional arrow in Paris 11ème this week.

New Paris bicycle lane signage... get it?

Paris has introduced new bicycle lane signage that permits cyclists to turn right, or go straight on, at a red light on a junction. The signage seems far for clear in what is a somewhat risky situation. A yellow bike and arrow on a triangular sign with a red stop sign... what should you do?
Thanks to Henri Choimet for the tip.

Malala Sakharov Prize 2013 poster

Our poster celebrating Malala's Sakharov Prize 2013 winning, for freedom of thought, awarded by the European Parliament.

Repetto, Hermès, La Coutellerie Nontronnaise - our local business's invest in design

Our local business's are committed investors in design and innovation. Repetto, in our town, €50 million t/o, 50 boutiques around the world, has extended its production plant to triple production. (+38% since 2002). 150 new staff hired and a school of leather craftsmanship opened this year.
Hermès workshops in Nontron, just up the road from here, are where the Kelly and Birkin handbags are made. Also in Nontron, CWD saddlery, No.1 in France and a world market leader, equips the French London Olympics winning team.
And La Coutellerie Nontronnaise makes its famous knives in its Philippe Starck & Luc Arsène-Henri designed workshops.
Designed in the Sud-Ouest is an overwhelming success!
All photos copyright of their owners

What is visual communications?

I am working on a keynote presentation / conference on the role of visual communications in global design. Coming soon.

BHV from a 60's joke to bland anonymity...

The BHV  f i n a l l y  gets round to a new identity and logotype.
The old cubic thing was really just a joke. So 60's, so unrelated to an upmarket department store, so 'heavy construction company'... so irrelevant! It amazed me every day I went past it. Just very disappointing to see that the new identity by Publicis Royalties is so characterless, bland and 'passe partout', it could be used for anything and it says absolutely nothing about the very unique BHV. Shame, a missed opportunity.