Walk Philadelphia

During the first class I had brought up that Philadelphia had a great pedestrian signage system.  Well I have learned a little more about it with a brief conversation with Peter Bressler whose firm was tasked with creating the signage, the signs designer is Joel Katz.

One thing that sets this signage system apart from the standard ones implemented in other cities is the orientation of the maps.  Whenever you see these signs up is the direction of view, not north.  The reason this is rarely done is because each sign has to be customized for its location and each side of the sign needs to be different.  

Some of the problems with this system that exist through no fault of the designers is the connectivity of the five areas across the city.  When you are walking in the Rittenhouse Square District all you have is an arrow pointing north saying Parkway Museum District with no detailed information.  

Philadelphia is a very walkable city so it is important to get people out and into it and taking stock of all the great things they have around them.  

http://www.centercityphila.org/docs/walkphila_infosheet.pdf