Graphic Design in Urban Environments

Graphic Design in Urban Environmentsintroduces the idea of a category of designed graphic objects that significantly contribute to the functioning of urban systems. These elements smaller than buildings are generally understood by urban designers to comprise such phenomena as sculpture clock towers banners signs large screens the portrayal of images on buildings through “smart screens” and other examples of what urban designers call “urban objects.”The graphic object as it is defined here also refers to a range of familiar things invariably named in the literature as maps street numbers route signs bus placards signs architectural communication commercial vernacular outdoor publicity lettering banners screens traffic and direction signs and street furniture. One can also add markings of a sports pitch lighting bollards even red carpets or well dressings.. By looking at the environment and design and deconstructing form and context relationships the defining properties and configurational patterns that make up graphic objects are shown in this book to link the smallest graphic detail (e.g. the number 16) to larger symbolic statements (e.g. the Empire State Building). From a professional design practice perspective a cross section through type typographic graphic and urban design will provide a framework for considering the design transition between alphabets writing systems images (in the broadest sense) and environments.