Which is probably a good thing.I can't see collectors fighting for rare examples of this boring, weak-looking stuff in 100 years time.
Smart price toilet paper isn't functional though. The main reason people don't buy it is because your fingers go through it. People mostly buy brands like Andrex because they remember that as being one of the ones that wasn't awful. You could get rid of the puppy, the colouring the font of the brand-name and people would still buy it because it would still be the one that their fingers didn't go through.If I was a travelling passenger, I'd be more likely to travel with a company that has some sort of brand. Black writing on plain white isn't really much of anything and while functional, so is Smart Price toilet paper.
But do you really think people chose Virgin West coast because of the station signs ?. Was there an alternative train comapny with different station signs on the same route and on the same platofrms ?.But do they look cheap, cheerful and an effort to save money or look stingy? Because if the signage is like that, maybe the trains are too! Or do they project a image of a company that cares about it's customers?
If I was a travelling passenger, I'd be more likely to travel with a company that has some sort of brand. Black writing on plain white isn't really much of anything and while functional, so is Smart Price toilet paper.
Remember, it's not about having some multi-coloured expensive sign that sings the trains at you.
It's about a corporate brand and a company identity. Even GBR will need an identity and brand, hence Rail Alphabet 2.
People seem to miss the fact that each company wants it's own brand and own identity and dismiss signage replacement as a "waste of money". It really isn't but not many people see that.
To understand the power of brand and identity, look at the Virgin Group. While not many are fans of Richard Branson, the brand he has "built" from a marketing point of view will always be one of success. Other brands that got in there include Blutac, Sellotape, Tippex, Hoover and to bring things up to date, Google - people rarely use the term "search" these days, they just say "google it".
While these brands aren't public service companies, people need to start looking at GBR from a marketing/branding point of view, not a paying passenger.
I agree - it is only meant to be information." But do they look cheap, cheerful and an effort to save money or look stingy? Because if the signage is like that, maybe the trains are too! Or do they project a image of a company that cares about it's customers?
If I was a travelling passenger, I'd be more likely to travel with a company that has some sort of brand. Black writing on plain white isn't really much of anything and while functional, so is Smart Price toilet paper."
They are also very clear for those with visual disabilities to use and easily understand. Signs are for wayfinding, not brand identification. By all means paint the trains whatever colour you like, but remember that signs on stations are there to enable people to find the places they need to go to, they have no other purpose.
For ral - Convenience, Seats, Aircon, Times, Frequency, Prices - those are more important than fancy signs that should be for information.Smart price toilet paper isn't functional though. The main reason people don't buy it is because your fingers go through it. People mostly buy brands like Andrex because they remember that as being one of the ones that wasn't awful. You could get rid of the puppy, the colouring the font of the brand-name and people would still buy it because it would still be the one that their fingers didn't go through.
Equally as a passenger, if I arrived at Edinburgh station and the station sign was the blandest in human history I would still get off there because that's where I live
Be interested to see what happens in West Yorkshire, WYPTE would indeed have insisted on it! It’s cos of WYPTE , for example , that 155 still exist!None of the West Yorkshire stations yet. I wonder if WYCA will try and keep co-branding?
Probably not, now they're WYCA. WYPTE would have insisted on it...
(And yes, it looks a bit 'weedy' to me as well.)
Which is probably a good thing.
Not sure where people have got this idea that they should be excited by the visual design of a station name board from.
But if people see this flashy branding but the experience of train travel is still utter s**t then they aren't going to come back. All you've done is applied extremely short-lasting polish to a proverbial turd. If Heinz started licensing their brand to be put on Tesco Value mayonnaise, it doesn't magically make it better quality, and as soon as people realise this has happened, they'll stop buying it.Literally everything about the design of public facing rail infrastructure is about marketing. You want the passenger to feel good about the expensive ticket they purchased, not to feel ripped off by paying a premium and seeing something designed right down to a price.
Stenning is right that we need to be "creating desire" for public transport, and good looking branding is vital to that.
I'd hope so seeing that Chathill was done quite early- it'd be a long wait for the train back otherwise!I'm sure they do. I suspect that will include travel time to the station.
Which is probably a good thing.
Not sure where people have got this idea that they should be excited by the visual design of a station name board from.
All you've done is applied extremely short-lasting polish to a proverbial turd. If Heinz started licensing their brand to be put on Tesco Value mayonnaise, it doesn't magically make it better quality, and as soon as people realise this has happened, they'll stop buying it.
That photo isn't how they'll look, I believe it comes from a station design document released prior to the new signage book.Judging by this image I think the more permanent replacement signage when/if it eventually comes its going to be quite a bit larger.
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Not to turn this into a debate about Ray Stenning, but one can only hope he doesn't get the brief. I feel his liveries are getting very same-y and generic at the moment, could be switched out between any of the companies he has branded.Tell that to Ray Stenning.
Literally everything about the design of public facing rail infrastructure is about marketing. You want the passenger to feel good about the expensive ticket they purchased, not to feel ripped off by paying a premium and seeing something designed right down to a price.
Stenning is right that we need to be "creating desire" for public transport, and good looking branding is vital to that. I really wish he gets the brief for GBR, like London Midland he will do a superb job if he does, even if he is told he has to use RA2.
Knutsford has been GBR'd.
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If I have to criticise, the weight of the font is too light and it looks bland. I hope we get the fill branding decided on soon.
I tend to like simple designs when it comes to things like this but, boy, is that bland.
I know, it's literally nothingness. Black font in a white abyss.I tend to like simple designs when it comes to things like this but, boy, is that bland.
For me, the train being the one to the station I'm going to is more important than any 'brand' Beyonf that I coulfn't really give a stuff. To me going on about brands is the stuff of suits in the marketing department so not somewhere I really want to poke my nose.Smart price toilet paper isn't functional though. The main reason people don't buy it is because your fingers go through it. People mostly buy brands like Andrex because they remember that as being one of the ones that wasn't awful. You could get rid of the puppy, the colouring the font of the brand-name and people would still buy it because it would still be the one that their fingers didn't go through.
Equally as a passenger, if I arrived at Edinburgh station and the station sign was the blandest in human history I would still get off there because that's where I live
I agree that it should be bolder.Knutsford has been GBR'd.
View attachment 102777
If I have to criticise, the weight of the font is too light and it looks bland. I hope we get the fill branding decided on soon.
Seems like someone is creating extra work, given that most of the stations that have been done had perfectly acceptable signage before these new ones were rolled out.I agree that it should be bolder.
Don't forget the signs may get additional logo/stripes or brand recognition when GBR is actually launched.
Seems like someone is creating extra work, given that most of the stations that have been done had perfectly acceptable signage before these new ones were rolled out.
They may have legal obligations to get rid of old signage by a particular date. Or alternatively it may have been observed that the signage was getting a bit dirty or worn off at a significant proportion of stations, and it was cheaper to run off a complete set of vinyls for Northern that to worry too much about which ones.Seems like someone is creating extra work, given that most of the stations that have been done had perfectly acceptable signage before these new ones were rolled out.
100%! And note, this isn't the customer facing branding of the rail network - it's the name of the station as seen from platforms for heaven's sake!But do you really think people chose Virgin West coast because of the station signs ?. Was there an alternative train comapny with different station signs on the same route and on the same platofrms ?.
The alternatives are non rail. Do we need to spice up the road signs - no. How fancy are the signs at airports.
100%! And note, this isn't the customer facing branding of the rail network - it's the name of the station as seen from platforms for heaven's sake!
It's like saying nobody will fly from Manchester Airport - not because of the airport's logo - but because the signs saying "Terminal 3" aren't coloured enough.
You're missing the point.But do you really think people chose Virgin West coast because of the station signs ?
It's like saying nobody will fly from Manchester Airport - not because of the airport's logo - but because the signs saying "Terminal 3" aren't coloured enough.
Ah the 155s… they should give you free earplugs as you board to cut down the noise (not just the 155, the 150 too).Be interested to see what happens in West Yorkshire, WYPTE would indeed have insisted on it! It’s cos of WYPTE , for example , that 155 still exist!
Well they have colours, I'll give you that. But it looks about as bare bones and utilitarian as you can get. There's not even a consistent style between different buildings in the same airport, obviously at random points in time somebody's thought "should we have a sign here"? and the manager has said "yes - knock it up in Microsoft Powerpoint and we'll get it made".I'm sure Manchester Airport's signage is just as bare bones and utilitarian... Oh, no it isn't.
I imagine some of the purists here will be disgusted by the unnecessary flair put into the design of the likes of the Crossrail stations and LU extension... if there's an accessible platform and a train, what does it matter what it looks like!
Well they have colours, I'll give you that. But it looks about as bare bones and utilitarian as you can get. There's not even a consistent style between different buildings in the same airport, obviously at random points in time somebody's thought "should we have a sign here"? and the manager has said "yes - knock it up in Microsoft Powerpoint and we'll get it made".