6・24・15 (GRC)

Bus Tour of London 

Exactly one week after our long awaited arrival in London, the group departed for a bus tour that allowed us to explore the city and all the awe-striking things it has to offer.

As we drove around block after block with our guide pointing out and explaining all the landmarks in the city, I couldn't help but to find myself distracted by all the diversity. The diversity of the people, the city blocks, the buildings, and finally, all of the different typography surrounding me.

Now, I'm just getting introduced to the whole technical side of typography, so these first only struck me as pretty and eye-catching. Nonetheless, I'll do my best to briefly explain why I think that is using the proper terminology...

This sign first caught my eye, because of the ornate swirls and twirls of each letter and my first conjecture was that it must be script type, because of its resemblance to handwriting or calligraphy. However, script should not be used in all caps, whereas decorative type font is typically used in all caps...leaving me in a sticky amateur situation of really not knowing what factor is more important, and therefore, which is correct.

This building in its entirety looks very important and I have no idea what it is, but the fact that such an old building has script numbers prominently displayed across it in neon red, captured my full attention. The juxtaposition of the ancient design and the modern sign display left me gravely curious what these numbers represent..and isn't that what a sign is supposed to do?

This white and brick building cut with a black stripe, which then appears to be gold-embossed looks so extraordinarily classy. That with the combination of explicit thicks and thins and extended serifs is simply striking.