As stated, the dumbest sign in the system used to be this one –
– because it hides the most important words, Westbound and Eastbound, inside some kind of failed Christmas cracker.
But we’ve got a new contender. And it’s also at St. Clair West. (Everywhere there, in fact.)
- Adding a border violates the fundamental rule of graphic design, which can be articulated as “1+1=3.” (Draw a vertical line on a blank page. How many objects do you have? One. Draw another line close by. Now how many objects do you have? Three – two lines and the space between them.)
- Multiple copies located all over the place, including at or near ends of stairs and escalators, giving you noplace to stand and read the damn things.
- Arrows imply that all destinations are possible by going in one and the same direction. (As such there should be one and only one arrow.) Well, you can get yourself to Australia by flying over the North Pole if you really put your mind to it. Everyone understands an arrow to mean “through the door the arrow points to.” This error alone sends people in the wrong direction.
- The sign expects us to keep constant ongoing front-of-mind track of which side is north versus south. I assure you most people will not be able to tell you which is which, not least the most disadvantaged groups, like seniors without smartphones. (Nor is anyone aware that a smartphone can generally tell you which direction is which.)
- Absurd bureaucratese in the sentence beginning “Accessible.” Just tell us where the frigging crosswalk is.
- Just like the previous record-holder, obscures eastbound and westbound notations within borders within capsules within keystones within cartouches.
TTC: Still dumb and undiscerning
In the classic manner, they aren’t even smart enough to get upset when you point out who dumb they are. “Undiscerning” is a concept you can’t explain to them.
St. Clair Worst 