Here’s what will replace York’s fingerpost signs
These are the new wayfinding signs designed for York.
They will replace the old fingerposts if the scheme gets planning permission.
It follows a project to redesign the signage around the city commissioned by the York BID (Business Improvement District).
The BID appointed Momentum Wayshowing to create a bespoke wayfinding and signage scheme for the city.
“The purpose of the scheme is to improve the experience of visiting York, by providing support to visitors so that they can more easily understand the city and to find their way around it,” project documents say.
“It will provide health benefits by encouraging walking, tourism and commercial benefits by encouraging exploration, improving experience and thereby encouraging visitors to return.”
Extensive consultation
Listed building consent is now required two install two flagpost signs, at either end of Ouse Bridge.
The designs were chosen after an extensive public consultation. These organisations were also consulted:
- English Heritage
- York Civic Trust
- York Archaeological Trust
- Visit York
- City of York Council.
A pilot totem was installed in St Helen’s Square in 2018 to garner feedback.
“The overall feedback was very positive. Visitors
agreed that the new design wayfinding was in keeping with the character of the city
centre,” says the project overview.
A total of 56 new signs are planned for the city centre, comprising:
- 29 standard totem signs
- 7 wide totem signs
- 15 fingerpost signs, and
- 5 riverside flag signs.
In the submission to planners for the first two riverside signs, the documents say: “Materials have been selected to be sympathetic to the unique and inherent character of York.
“The purpose of this sign is to support and encourage walking and use of the riverside paths.
“These walks are unique to York and can provide an improved experience of visiting York.”
You can view the plans, and comment, here.
Why is the text on the signs so small. The elderly and others with poor vision will struggle. There is plenty of room on the signs for larger fonts.
£35,000 per installation.
It’s a paper map behind an acrylic sheet, with a stainless steel surround!
Someone needs to get a grip on reality!!!
I’m totally in favour of modernising the city where appropriate, but these proposed fingerpost designs are all function and no character and lack the charm and sympathetic materials of existing ones which actually feature on postcards; do you think the new ones would feature there?
I live in York because I love the history and the old architecture, I do not see that this new design is in keeping what so ever, sometimes new does not need to replace what we have used for centuries and works !!!!!!
Very boring, at least the original signs have character. Two look like they belong in a shopping mall! York is not a modern city no matter how much some planners try to alter it. People come here for the history and architecture, they can get bland elsewhere.
Why didn’t they use the colours of Rowntree or Terry’s? What does mars/galaxy have to do with York? Can you use an artist with local sensibilities please.
Very dull and corporate looking. The existing signs look traditional and fit well with the City, these new ones may as well be in Meadowhall or an office block.
What a waste of money and effort. There’s nothing wrong with the signs we have now and they’re much more in keeping with York. Why spend money just for the sake of it?!
These look horrible! The present signs blend in. The proposed ones really don’t.
Horrible, no character! What was wrong with the old ones and why do we have to spend money replacing them?
Forgettable, hard to read, and generally unpleasant. York sells itself on history, but is replacing everything in sight with modern tat that will look tired in months. Shame!