Once you start paying more attention to signs, you quickly notice that so many of them are warnings. Suddenly there’s a lurking catastrophe wherever you cast your eyes.
These signs are like The Boy Who Cried Wolf: we learned to ignore their hyperbole long ago.
Let their dramatic language take effect and it can be oddly poetic: Danger Water. I like the ring of that.
Have you savoured any warnings lately?
I’m not a big fan of tattoos, but tattoo parlour signs interest me. How many other businesses tempt you so blatantly with the idea that you might look different going out than you did going in?
In this case, I like the way the lettering is set against a mirrored backdrop. It’s a last-minute reminder as you enter that your appearance may be about to change.
It’s a bit like stepping into a new year. The promise of transformation is in the air. The person you are on the first of January is not the person you’ll be on December 31st.
Who will you choose to become in 2010?
I hope the year is off to a wonderful start for you!
Thanks for having a look at the beginnings of Toronto Type. I’ve been taking a break and will resume posting photos on Wednesday January 6.
Here’s to a year of seeing the world around you with fresh eyes! In 2010, may all your city strolls be graced with brilliant typography.
See you soon!
Corneil
This small sign has fascinated me for a while now. It has a tantalizing gleam that’s somehow enticing and slightly menacing at the same time. It’s attached to a door that I imagine having a reason to open.
I like to picture this as the low-key entrance to a mad scientist’s lair. One day, a rash decision to satisfy my curiosity sets off a B-movie style plot.
There are other signs on the building that indicate this is a computer-related business. And a check on their website solves the riddle of what Saved By Technology actually does.
Nevertheless, I’m tempted to concoct other stories.
There’s something grand about a sign that isn’t content to be framed by one rectangular box, but spaces itself out letter by letter. These gigantic slabs affixed to the side of a building have the tactile allure of Scrabble tiles.
I have a confession to make: I only photographed the last three letters of the sign. I just couldn’t help myself! So here’s a challenge for all you sign geeks and type freaks: What’s the full name of the store and in what Toronto neighbourhood will you find it? C’mon, impress me!
Here’s a perfect marriage between a slab serif typeface and a tough-sounding word. This sign is bold without apologies.
Is Hardboiled a crime fiction bookstore? A private detective agency? A breakfast joint where they only serve one style of eggs? No, no, and no.
Hardboiled is a t-shirt shop and I admire its punchy street presence.
Who knew the word “convenience” could have so much personality? I spotted this sign in the Kensington Market area and its swooping energy makes me grin.
Stare long enough at the sly curves playing against crisp angles and you’ll start to feel woozy. That seven-sided “O” is a marvel!
I haven’t been inside the store and I’d be almost reluctant to enter. How could its contents possibly match the roller coaster exuberance of the sign?
Welcome to Toronto Type! This blog is where you’ll find my photos of Toronto signs, along with my attempts to explain why I find these signs intriguing.
Get ready for a wild typographical adventure!
TORONTO TYPE 