Tel Aviv, Israel

History and culture can be on vivid display in a city's street signs. History: Eliezer Ben-Yehuda has a special place in the history of Israel because he developed the modern Hebrew language. Culture: Three languages + three alphabets = one street sign design. [2010]

Toulouse, France

History and culture can be on vivid display in a city's street signs. History: Toulouse may be French speaking (place) today, but in the past it spoke the langue d'oc (plaça). Culture: The region of France south of the Loire River still thinks of itself as culturally distinct from the Paris Basin and uses its ancient language to maintain an identity as Occitania. [2005]

Brussels, Belgium

History and culture can be on vivid display in a city's street signs. History: The "ancient" names are on display. Culture: Belgium's two largest cultural-linguistic communities are given equal time: French (rue) is first because Brussels in predominantly French-speaking; Flemish (or Dutch) follows (straat). This is the street of worms. [2015]

New Bern, North Carolina, USA

Pepsi, unlike its older brother, low-keyed corporate murals. Certainly, there was none on the wall of Caleb Bradham's pharmacy in New Bern, "the Birthplace of Pepsi Cola." Until 1898, Pepsi was known as "Brad's Drink." See the historical marker? P.S.: Thanks, Pepsi, for pulling out of Russia! [2021]

Northwood, Iowa, USA

February is all about the number two, and 2/22 is a palindrome too! It may be time to re-design our street signs and let them help sell the places where we live. How would you evaluate the design? the color? the font? the emblem? the cartouche? How would you evaluate the street names themselves? Be sure to see yesterday's post. [2019]

Celebration, Florida, USA

February is all about the number two, and 2/22 is a palindrome too! It may be time to celebrate our street signs and let them help sell the places where we live. How would you evaluate the design? the color? the font? the emblem? the cartouche? How would you evaluate the street names themselves? Be sure to see tomorrow's post. [2017]

St. Petersburg, Florida, USA

The street signs on Snell Isle are far from standard issue. They look like they could be drawn from a museum (a) of natural history (see the panther?) or (b) of art (see the Roman frieze?). As for the panther: The neighborhood is his former habitat. And, as for the demigod trying to be helpful: Could be either Bes or Bacchus. [2009]

Asbury Park, New Jersey, USA

Abnormal is how you might describe this street sign. It's hardly standard issue. Its placement at ground level comes as a surprise, and its form is reminiscent of a frieze, even down to the mosaic tiles. Perhaps for this neighborhood, normal street signs would be just too pedestrian (that means "commonplace," according to Merriam-Webster). [2008]

Ottawa, Kansas, USA

In contrast to standard-issue street signs, the wayfinding aids in Ottawa deviate from the norm. They are not even near eye level: They are on the ground. And they deviate from the form we expect, too. They take the shape of three-dimensional polyhedrons rather than two-dimensional planes. In placement, though, no surprises: They are on the corners. [2021]

Newport, Rhode Island, USA

What does a standard-issue street sign look like? Take a gander at Thames Street. Nothing more, nothing less than what we need for wayfinding. And, while not particularly aesthetic, it does no harm to the streetscape. Even its location in our visual field, at slightly above arms reach, is where we expect to get the information we need. [2008]

Lincoln, Nebraska, USA

Here's another state map on a street sign, but in this case the opus seems to be a public-private partnership. The public side: City of Lincoln. The private side: Nebraska Pork Producers. What if this idea took off in popularity? How would your community's cultural landscape look different? By the way, these two streets are in the state fair grounds. [2007]

York, Pennsylvania, USA

Every map needs a compass rose. So, thank you, York, for the appliqué. Now think about your county: What appliqué could you use to spotlight its place in the world? In the case of York County, your alternatives might be a barbell, a pretzel, or an animal cracker, all in the interest of enhancing everyone's sense of place. [2010]

Oxford, North Carolina, USA

Want to test your creativity? Look at the outline map of your state and turn it into something to be proud of in your local environment. Here's an example: Oxford is "Home to North Carolina's Hot Sauce Contest." Somebody has morphed the state map into a chili pepper. How creative! [2013]

Jonesboro, Georgia, USA

See the map? It's an outline of Clayton County. See the gateway to history? It says Historic Jonesboro, which is the county seat. How has your community branded its street signs? With a map? Its name? A historic silhouette? If you wanted to use a map, what would be your choice: state, county, municipality? [2015]

Santa Monica, California, USA

Follow Historic Route 66 right down to the Santa Monica Pier. There it ends. Where does it begin? Chicago. The mother road provided Los Angeles with a mother load of migrants who soon turned it into the country's third, and then second, largest city. And, a different city it was. Left behind were all the norms that ruled the East. [2020]

Chicago, Illinois, USA

Famous cities have famous streets, and the signs that bear their names become iconic. Why not replicate those icons at the airport (in this case O'Hare) to say "welcome" or "welcome back"? Successful branding efforts replicate icons (and iconic personalities) that have become entrenched in popular culture. [2019]

Mount Horeb, Wisconsin, USA

The easiest element of branding is getting your town's name out there. Put it everywhere you can think of, including the water tower. Then, make your campaign a "toponym-plus" effort by finding other characteristics that are unique: Trolls perhaps. Without branding, street signs are so industrial-era; make them post-industrial, make them unique. [2019]

Ocean City, Maryland, USA

Towns should take every opportunity to brand themselves. It is an antidote to placelessness. Choose street names that reflect local points of pride even if the lighthouse for which this street is named is located in nearby Delaware. It is the Fenwick Island Lighthouse. What other element of branding can you identify here? [2019]

Anita, Iowa, USA

The Pillsbury doughboy seems to have been nailed to a telephone pole, but he still seems so happy. At 54 years old, he is probably happy about how well he has defied aging. Now an historic figure, he seems to belong along a historic highway. [2019]

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Faux Animal Characters: Here's an animal character that's not commercial. Her purpose is simply to spruce up the visual environment along First Street: perfect for Las Vegas, where eyes are always closed to naughtiness. [2016]