Multikulti Update

A few weeks ago, I wrote about a sign on Valencia street(sign of week: 8) for a shop called MultiKulti. I tried to interpret it's history from the layers of vinyl and paint. This week I realized how lucky I was to have taken that picture, as all the layers have been covered with a new sign face for better or worse.

before


after

If these walls could talk....

...They can, in fact they won't shut up. Listen to what they have to say.

Big ups to Jackson at SFist for mentioning my Christmas post, and even more so for putting the Evil Sign Post in proximity to Cassidy Curtis's Graffiti Archaeology. This site is amazing! It really is Archeology, and not unlike what I saw when I took a tour a couple of years ago, of the Myan Ruins of Lamanai. Curtis's site provides a record of our culture for the future. If San Francisco ever gets conquered by the Spanish ( I know this is an oxymoron) then at least we will have photography and the internet to tell our history.

more about myan ruins here:
Lamanai
Myan Ruins
My Lamanai Tour
Myan links

Braille Round up

I would guess that over seventy-five percent of the work I do every day has something to do with ADA compliance. Although Priority Architectural Graphics is nearly a full service sign shop, ADA signage including braille is our niche. That said, I thought it would be nice to share some of my resources here. These links are on my del.icio.us page that I try to update whenever I get a chance. If this interests you, bookmark it, and check back for updates. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated too.

The American Braille Career School
Braille school

Not Vanilla
T-shirts that are meant to be touched, with braille messages screen printed on them.

Ototenji - Sound Braille
A device that helps sighted people learn braille (Japanese)

Mukana
Includes a cell phone, a wireless headset, a Global Positioning System (GPS) module and voice recognition software.

The braille computer mouse
A refreshable braille display built into a mouse.

Bendable braille e-paper
A bendable braille display that can be incorporated into e-books, prepaid cards and household appliances.

Chocolate Braille Gifts
Greeting cards made of chocolate with embossed braille messages.

Free Braille True Type
Free braille font to install on your computer.

Braille Jewelry
Pins, earrings and bracelets that are embossed with braille messages.

You've Got Braille
An easy to read braille key.

Sendero Group
Maker of GPS systems for the blind.

L'Occitane
French bath and beauty product company. The labels on their products have embossed braille, and they sponsor vocation programs for the blind.

Sign of the Week: 10

This sign tells the history of Chistmas Island, a great example of how much information can actually be applied to a sign with limited space. I think you have to go there to be able to read it.


The Red and Green of Christmas Island is most prevalant in the month of December, as millions of red crabs descend from the green hills on their annual migration to the sea.

Where is Christmas? Ironically, not far from Darwin.

Ms. Subway Spoof

In light of the recent transportation strike in New York, Ms Subway has found herself the target of a few snarky points of subway ettiquette that are pesently being totally ignored.

Hall of Obscurity / Last Gasp

Wouldn't you know... the first time in several years that I missed the Last Gasp's annual Holiday party, and they had the Hall of Obscurity on display. Luckily Bookmanwas there.

Ladies and Gentlemen feast your eyes on the freaks of the circus side shows!



see also:
laughingsquid
via:
boingboing

Sign of the Week: 9

"Look your Best"
From the designers at New Zealnd's Clemenger BBDO.
This billboard illustrates the importance of wearing fashionable underwear.

see also: Playboy wet T-shirt Billboard

Sign of the Week : 8

MultiKulti is a small shop, owned by Egyptian percussionist Reda Darwish at 539 Valencia street in the Mission District of San Francisco, that sells stuff that is well, multicultural: mostly gifts and imported clothes and jewelry.
The top and second layer of this sign seem to both say "MultiKulti" (2001- 2005). I'm guessing from the orange and black of the third layer that it was from around 1999 when the store was called "La Tigre Bomba's" After that, I'm not sure but it seems to have been a back-lit sign at some point, which may or may not have included the bell shape that protrudes from the front.