They’re not signs. Signs is such a negative word. They’re wayfinding. They’re the result of three years of “community input, planning, deign, and collaboration” orchestrated by the Partnership on Wayfinding. They, combined with the visioning and consulting that went into their design, are worth over $1.8 million collected in Buncombe County hotel occupancy taxes and appropriations from local governments.
Special permission was obtained to allow them to be printed on a midnight background, rather than the standard wayfinding cerulean shade. The font is bold and handsome, approaching a classic Letter Gothic. The backs of the signs feature excerpts from local literary greats expressed via random words in random fonts, on random swatches of pastel colors, characteristic of GenX art. It gives the signs a conscious feel of having been constructed on recycled cardboard. Rather than bracing the signs in the ground, the bases are somewhat elevated to raise awareness about the four bolts used to fasten city posts. The crowning feature of each is the finial, or, in the vulgate, doodad. Just as a woman is not dressed without a feather, flower, or gauche brooch in her hat, the city would lose synergy opportunities without the spiral, feather, sun, and other amulets designed on contract by local artists.
Now, in case you’re still wondering why we did it, we did it all for Thee, O Government. Harken!
“The implementation of a comprehensive wayfinding system has been a key goal of city council’s strategic operating plan to help make Asheville safe, sustainable, affordable, green and fiscally responsible,” added City of Asheville Mayor Terry Bellamy. “A strong wayfinding program can also lead to an increase in retail sales which would provide additional revenue that benefits our business owners and residents, as well as provides sales tax dollars to local government to better serve our constituents.”
