[micro]

The metro/subway in Mexico City has an interesting and very consistent way-finding system using the same font throughout. There's a free lookalike font available at [a link I'm not allowed to post here] and here are some photos I found on the Web:

[Obviously new members are not even allowed to post images so I don't know how to show the font but maybe someone can help nevertheless...]

Does anybody know the actual name of the font and who has designed it, and when?

Thanks,
Michael

[steveb]

My mate in Albany NY has created a free font, Metro DF, based on the Mexico City metro typeface. Harold's Fonts Click on Deco/Geometric. The original was designed by Aldo Novarese, and since the system opened in 1968 (just in time to show off some excellent metro architecture and design to the Olympic visitors) you can guess that the typeface was probably also under construction in the mid to late 60s.

There's a site here Metro Fonts - Metro Bits - mic-ro.co(s)m with some other subway/metro fonts.

If you want to give us a link, just type it like this: w w w.finesite.com
We'll know what to do!

[micro]

Thank you, Harold's site was the one I wanted to link. But I see an ambiguity there: "...uses a peculiar adaptation of the classic font Eurostile, designed by Aldo Novarese". Eurostile was designed by Novarese, but the Mexico metro font -- also?? I have emailed Harold, wonder what he will say.

And thanks for linking to my Metro Fonts page, I want to add Mexico to it!

I'll try again to link to the photos:
img393.imageshack.us/img393/4084/elmetro7hi8.jpg
img46.imageshack.us/img46/5006/hpim9057large2sf.jpg
members.cox.net/mxx/metro111.jpg
img183.imageshack.us/img183/4489/hpim4891large6yw.jpg

[steveb]

So that's your site! I've had it bookmarked for some time. Good stuff! I was a bit disappointed that Mexico wasn't on it.
It'll be interesting to know if Harold has the info regarding the original designer.

[micro]

Next time you have a suggestion please don't hesitate to contact me

The Mexico riddle is solved. Harold didn't know it but I have also asked the designer of Mexico City metro's way-finding system, Lance Wyman. Mr. Wyman wrote he had designed the font.

[steveb]

I'm surprised he's still around. Did you know the Mexico subway is the only system in the world which also uses icons or motifs to identify each station? Apparently illiteracy is still widespread enough to require it. London's Victoria Line stations also have tile mosaics as artwork based on either the name of the station or a historical event close by, but they're not originally intended to aid the illiterate.

[micro]

Yes, I've read about the station icons. I think they are a great way to add some ease of use and some emotion to the metro system, not only for the illiterate but for everyone. So it's maybe a model for every metro system.