This study combined three research methodologies to inform the choice of a typeface for signs at London’s Heathrow Airport. The methodologies were legibility testing, qualitative consumer research, and expert review. The study showed that, contrary to a number of expert predictions, the serifed typeface performed as well as the sans serif in legibility testing. Character width was a more significant factor in legibility, with condensed sans serif performing relatively poorly. The use of multiple methodologies led to a richer basis for decision-making: the qualitative research revealed clear genre expectations among airport users for sans serif signs; the expert reviewers raised a range of additional issues of genre, culture and context.
2023. Approach for Evaluating the Effectiveness of the Airport Roadway Traffic Sign System. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board
Oderkerk, Chiron A. T. & Sofie Beier
2022. Fonts of wider letter shapes improve letter recognition in parafovea and periphery. Ergonomics 65:5 ► pp. 753 ff.
2011. 2011 IEEE International Professional Communication Conference, ► pp. 1 ff.
Strand, Lennart
2008. Legibility on a Podcast: Color and typefaces. In Advances in Computer and Information Sciences and Engineering, ► pp. 265 ff.
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