Photo by Gabe Zaldivar
This is going to be a good year for nerds with highly specific taste, namely those interests that meander into typography and infrastructure.
Now that we undoubtedly have your attention, we'll inform you that the London Underground is preparing to alter its iconic font from Johnston to Johnston100.
Now before you pass out from sudden onset boredom, we have to say the alteration and the history of the iconic look are really quite fascinating. As Wired notes, the move is meant to update the font for access across various screens and to invoke the kind of spirit inspired by the original.
It also happens to be 100 years since the typeface was originated, so consider this is a celebration of sorts.
The following video walks you through the impetus behind the decision and clues us into how the London Underground signage might look later this year.
Monotype, which is at the helm of the re-design, offered some insight as to how this all came about: "With information conveyed across an ever-expanding range of outlets, from station maps to mobile apps, Transport for London (TfL) needed to expand and update Johnston without compromising the designer's original intentions."
Essentially the advent of social media, apps and other technology means TfL needs to update a pretty and beloved font to meet the demands of the modern traveler.
Technology has now managed to reach the typography section of the industry. However, from the look of it, the new typeface doesn't seem all that different than the original.
Obviously, we presume thousands of people will still manage to lose their minds over the switch.
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