I drive by this all the time and it took me like 5 times driving past it before I finally realized what it said; therefore I deem it bad typography. I appreciate the initial idea of using the stethoscope in a playful manner as the 'y' to describe their business but I think it could have been executed in a more effective way. For instance the fact that it is red while the rest of the word (that it goes with) is black makes it a little illegible. Also adding to the illegibility is the fact that its on a different baseline than the rest of the word. Instead of seeing it first as a 'y' you see the stethoscope, which is not good typography if you are trying to advertise your business. It's especially not good for a large sign by the street, because when drivers are passing by they only have a few seconds to glance at it, and you want to be able to get your company's name across and then the idea.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Tots & Tykes
I drive by this all the time and it took me like 5 times driving past it before I finally realized what it said; therefore I deem it bad typography. I appreciate the initial idea of using the stethoscope in a playful manner as the 'y' to describe their business but I think it could have been executed in a more effective way. For instance the fact that it is red while the rest of the word (that it goes with) is black makes it a little illegible. Also adding to the illegibility is the fact that its on a different baseline than the rest of the word. Instead of seeing it first as a 'y' you see the stethoscope, which is not good typography if you are trying to advertise your business. It's especially not good for a large sign by the street, because when drivers are passing by they only have a few seconds to glance at it, and you want to be able to get your company's name across and then the idea.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
13 comments:
oh skidmark.
i agree 100%. i see it and i think tots and YIKES..not takin the kids there.
yes, true, the idea is there but the execution is not good. it bothers me how the stethoscope is the same color as pediatrics or whatever. they need to not only redesign the style of the stethoscope, but also fix the layout and organization of the whole thing. simplify. use one color or use color better. and bam! we have a good sign!
My first impression of this logo is that I do not like the choice of type in "Tots and Tykes". For some reason, this font strikes me as cheap and non-professional, which should not be the impression I get from a company that holds the lives of young children in their hands. Also, having the ampersand on a lower baseline and the extended T decreases legibility. Like Lauren said, you need to be able to read the name of the company fast, especially since most people see it for a split second as they are driving by. The font of "Pediatrics" looks fine and doesn't bother me. However, the designers need to find a different image of a stethoscope. The earpieces take away the legibility, despite its meaningful purpose. Yes, Cory, you are right; it almost reads "Tots and Yikes"!! This add is definitely a "yikes"!! It needs a more professional look.
I don't read "yikes" as much as I think it. I read tukes, and tokes, before I finally got to tykes. I agree that the execution is poorly done.
Not only that, but the style of the y does not even really fit the characteristics of the other letters. It is more organic and "rubbery" or flexible than the other letters, as well as being a lesser stroke weight.
Although, I agree that this is a bad use of type, I can see where they were coming from by trying to make it appeal to children. But that is no excuse! They could have easily changed the angle of the stethoscope and made it smaller. The largeness of the stethoscope is what bothers me the most about this sign. I also feel that the style of the Y does not fit with the other letters, and that is really irritating and does anything but make me want to pay attention to the sign.
Although, I agree that this is a bad use of type, I can see where they were coming from by trying to make it appeal to children. But that is no excuse! They could have easily changed the angle of the stethoscope and made it smaller. The largeness of the stethoscope is what bothers me the most about this sign. I also feel that the style of the Y does not fit with the other letters, and that is really irritating and does anything but make me want to pay attention to the sign.
This sign has extremely bad hierarchy. I agree with all of your previous statements.
The y below the baseline in "kes" and not having the "T" more dominant, made me really struggle with where to begin after "Tots". Signage is supposed to be immediately legible and have some original catch to it to separate it from it's competitors. It fails at legibility and its horrible layout and cheap type makes the consumer feel that there is probably a better choice out there for their needs.
Until I read your explanation, I had no idea what the sign said. I thought it said "Tots and Tokes" which makes absolutely no sense, but I was relating the black type to the black part of the stethoscope. I also agree with ice queen that the typeface and the graphic makes it looks cheap and unprofessional.
whoa.
this has lots of problems.
but we'll focus on the readability.
not only is it hard to identify the stethoscope as the 'y' but for me it took forever for me to connect the capital 'T' with that 'y' to make the second word. since the stethoscope is red it seemed like a new starting point so for me first I read it as "tots and 'ykes'" then "tots and kes." It took me awhile and some extra eyes to figure it out. This sign screams, ignore me, don't read me, forget about my service.
great example of horrible type.
i definetly agree that this is bad type, it took me a good minute to try to read it right , the image is way to strong which makes it stop being a type as an image but it becomes really and image and contrast with the type and there is a separation.
I also think this is bad typography. It was creative with the stethoscope yet I was confused that it was a y I think its a little hard to and if it is supposed to be advertising your business it needs to be clearly communicated.
that took me a while to read as well! I think i would not take me children there, it needs a more professional and clean look.
I agree... not very good use of typography. If I saw this sign... I wouldn't take a child there. It looks cheap. I thought the stethoscope looked like a wishbone... I had to look twice. Probably not very wise color decision. I would change it to blue or just plain black.
It looks as though they went with their first idea. they could have push it a whole lot more to be legible. i really didnt know what the sign said until i looked at it a couple times and then i still didnt get all of it. i think it is cheesy and could have been executed a whole lot better to make it work.
Post a Comment