Archive for March, 2012

Corm-A-Rama

March 28, 2012

Corm-a-rama

I noticed this poster in the window of Type Books recently, the shop I wrote about in January because of its sensational viral video. The multi-coloured mismatched type is attention-grabbing and the flags promising music and merriment add to the festive tone.

The poster trumpets an event to raise money for writer Derek McCormack, who will be undergoing treatment for cancer. There will also be a fundraising art sale beginning April 1 at 12:00 noon ET, which you can learn about at artforderek.com.

It’s great to feel a blast of graphic energy with such good intentions behind it. By the way, the poster is available as a printable pdf.

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Press Grey…

March 21, 2012

Press Grey

Recently a friend and I took advantage of the warm weather and headed out to Toronto Island for the day. I was startled by this handmade sign above the ticket machine at the ferry docks.

I guess the machine is so bewildering to some that it requires this extra explanation. There’s an eight-step process and a whole lot of parentheses.

We’d already purchased our tickets at the ticket booth, so there was no need to interact with the machine. Has anyone used the device and been successful?

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Adore

March 13, 2012

Adore

This word fits neatly into the stair-like shape of the facade. I appreciate the command because it’s so open-ended: Adore what? Adore whom? We’re left to fill in the blank ourselves.

On a spring-like day in Toronto it’s easy to find something to adore. The sensation of a warm breeze on my face. The feeling of the ground beneath my feet.

What are you adoring now?

The ascending letter here also make me think of “Do-Re-Mi.” Soon I’ll be having visions of Maria Von Trapp in Trinity Bellwoods Park.

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Adore Pedestrians

March 7, 2012

Adore Pedestrians

I love instructions for simple activities like crossing the street. They convey an image of the world as a helpful place. They say: no matter how small your concern, there’s guidance if you look for it.

The signs at Toronto crosswalks are often hard to read, unfortunately. They’re frequently encrusted with grime or barnacled with stickers or messed up in one way or another.

In this case, there’s a positive message that shines through, a command to “adore pedestrians”. And what pedestrian doesn’t need a little love while walking beneath the Gardiner Expressway?

Posted in Damage, Pictograms, Revisions | 2 Comments »