Archive for the ‘Typography’ Category
Accessibility issues at Iarnród Éireann lifts
For the last few weeks, travelling between Monasterevin and Port Laoise, I have noticed new signage at the lifts at stations on the Iarnród Éireann network. Helpfully this signage has large clear icons next to the instructions to aid understanding. The instructions are shown both as Gaeilge and in English. There is an additional line of Braille under the instructions to improve accessibility. All of this is much better than the previous signage. However, I have spotted a couple of issues with what is displayed, and have highlighted these to Iarnród Éireann.
First of all, the second and third of the large clear icons seem to be in the wrong places. The second instruction,
Brúitear an cnaipe / Press button
has a speaking telephone indicated next to it.
The third instruction,
Labhair leis an oibreoir / Speak to operator
has a Press button icon next to it.
It seems to me that no one checked the signs before they were printed. Since they are on all the updated and improved lifts on the network, it seems a significant waste of money to have allowed them to go to press without checking that they were correct.
Secondly, while it is fantastic to see Braille appearing on signage to improve accessibility for those with sight difficulties, it is disappointing to see that the Braille is up only in English. Ireland is a bilingual country. We have a national language, Irish, and a second official language, English. (Article 8, Bunreacht na hÉireann). Since 2014, there has been an Updated Irish Braille standard, approved by the Irish National Braille and Alternative Format Association. I accept that there may be accessibility issues in having Braille up in more than one language, but surely there is some way of managing this? Given we have both the Irish and the English in the latin characters on the signage, can we not have both Irish and English Braille as well?
I have raised both these issues via Twitter:
I will report back if there is any major response from Iarnród Éireann.
A sound from my past
As an aside, I have fond memories of waking up at my grandparents’ house in Cornwall to the sound of the Perkins Brailler being used by my grandfather. He used to help the RNIB by Brailling books for them. It was a very comforting sound throughout my teenage years when staying there.
Wedding keepsake certificates – CofE
Due to recent changes in marriage registration in England, the Church of England’s clergy will no longer issue the legal marriage certificate following a wedding at which they officiate. That will be done by the civil authorities. However, many clergy will want to give the couple a certificate from the church as well. Over on Twitter, a design from the CofE was shared and it was suggested that it was not great. I have designed a couple of alternatives.
Any cleric of the Church of England who wants to use these designs is welcome to do so. Please contact me on Twitter to arrange.
Police Service NI – a sensible rebranding
Having grown up with the police service in Northern Ireland known almost universally by its abbreviation of RUC, for Royal Ulster Constabulary, it was probably inevitable that its successor the Police Service of Northern Ireland would become known by its four intial letters, the PSNI. I am pleased that the Chief Constable has said that he wants the service to be rebranded as “Police Service NI”. It puts their role back to the forefront of their brand. I think that is very important.
Agreed in 2001, the badge of the Police Service of Northern Ireland,
features a Saint Patrick’s Cross surrounded by six symbols – a harp, crown, shamrock, laurel leaf, torch and scales of justice.
BBC News, “Board Agrees on NI police badge”, http://news.bbc.co.uk/ [accessed 2020-06-06]
Whilst the rebranding of the Royal Ulster Constabulary to the Police Service of Northern Ireland was painful for many in Northern Ireland, this rebrand should be painless.
Chief Constable Simon Byrnes said:
Policing is so much more than an acronym – which is why our brand review is focussing on using ‘Police Service NI’ as opposed to ‘PSNI’. Our current brand is simply the crest and we aim to enhance this to better reflect the breadth and depth of what we do and to improve our connection to our communities.
“We are keen to bring consistency and a fresher look to the Police Service NI brand and imagery across our digital platforms, publications, building signage, livery and our website. Alongside this, we are reviewing our uniform and our vehicle fleet signage. It is important to highlight that we are not changing the crest or the name of the Service as both are representative of the service we deliver and are set in law.
“We have already briefed the Northern Ireland Policing Board, the Justice Minister and the Police Federation on our plans and will be starting a consultation process over the summer months that will continue into the Autumn to get your views before returning to the Policing Board with an update on the final proposals.
Police Service NI, Chief Constable introduces draft visuals for new Police Service NI branding, https://www.psni.police.uk/news/ [accessed 2020-06-06]
I notice that in the reversed version of the proposed new brand, the name of the organisation has been removed from the circle around the badge. I presume this is because the name is alongside the badge. The symbols that are so important to the badge are now clearer in the white version of the badge so I hope that this rebrand will get the support and go ahead following consultation.
Rebrands often seem to cost huge amounts of money, I am glad to hear that all work done thus far has been done by the inhouse designer so thus far it is cost neutral. Obviously, organisations rebranding have to invest in new signage and in new livery for vehicles, but as we all know signage and livery has to be redone regularly to look the best, so I am sure that it will be done at the approriate time.
Well done for the proposed brand refresh.
The Lord’s Prayer
Growing up with a mother who grew up in the Church of England, I was always fascinated by the prayer cards and other cards that she used in her Book of Common Prayer as bookmarks. Inspired by these, here’s a design of card with the words of The Lord’s Prayer from The Message. I hope you find it useful.
If anyone wants any other verses set out in a similar manner, please feel free to contact me.
