tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2228174552203445896.post509944688315417427..comments2024-02-05T01:33:59.164-05:00Comments on futureprobe: The Enterprise-EPCOT Signage SimilarityDavid Landonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12909440700102911571noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2228174552203445896.post-85534740350681375902012-01-03T11:29:43.205-05:002012-01-03T11:29:43.205-05:00well put. seems symptomatic of a critique that...well put. seems symptomatic of a critique that's been around for some time: EPCOT doesn't really know what it wants to be. in 1980, they may not have really known what EPCOT would become or whether it would work. but they knew that even if they weren't going for Walt's original vision that they were going for something. today EPCOT seems a little like a dumping ground for activities and attractions that don't really fit anywhere. would be nice if management tried to answer the question: what do we want EPCOT to be? And that answer needs to be something other than "... a place to put 50,000 people on a busy day"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2228174552203445896.post-46058836451937625272011-12-28T11:00:11.150-05:002011-12-28T11:00:11.150-05:00This is an intriguing topic, and it's really t...This is an intriguing topic, and it's really too bad that the signs don't have the uniform approach of the earlier days. I agree that the sense of visual incoherence in Future World now brings down the overall feeling. These are the key details that most visitors don't consciously see, but it creates a certain effect that's felt regardless. It changes the whole demeanor of the park from something unique and original to just a strange combination of unrelated styles.Dan Heatonhttp://ptsnob.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2228174552203445896.post-12095166668382355642011-12-28T08:06:45.609-05:002011-12-28T08:06:45.609-05:00The de-futurization of EPCOT through its signage a...The de-futurization of EPCOT through its signage and way finding has been the saddest part of its decline for me. As a lover of the future, Trek and EPCOT have always been closely related and I'm pleased you explored that in this post. In some way, EPCOT Center was responsible for me becoming a communication designer: I was one of those few 9 year-olds who noticed the iconography of EPCOT Center for its cohesiveness, consistency, effectiveness and style. <br /><br />I agree with you that the 1990s signage has been a step back. I even challenge that it has removed what has made EPCOT truly unique. At least the original EPCOT Center signage used visual devices (compositional negative space, iconography, color) that were different from its modern-day context, allowing it to truly feel futuristic or visionary. Star Trek did this as well; its signage and iconography setting it apart from its 1970s production. The current EPCOT signage, by "feeling" 1990s spoils its ability to transport us to a future, leaving everything feeling like it relates to something in the past as in your "Flash Gordon", "Mac OS font, or my favorite, "like 1994 threw up all over it" examples.<br /><br />Yeah, I'm a geek about this, too. But there's a real grounding for this topic through design: if EPCOT Center and Future World especially stop <i>looking</i> like the future by using imagery that conjures up the past, can they even claim to be <i>about</i> the future?Dennis Cheathamhttp://www.dennischeatham.comnoreply@blogger.com