This gallery presents the collection of photos submitted for the World Of Signage Photo Contest by the readers of Smashing Magazine. We received over 2,500+ photos from our readers across the globe, and present a selection of the most interesting photos in the overview below.
The topic of this gallery is Street and Wayfinding signs, signs which intention, in a clear and effective way, is to assist locals and travelers alike in their wayfinding. Please notice: each photo has a certain license, provided in the description of the photo. Before using the images for private or commercial projects, make sure that the license allows you to do so. Also, you can click on the photos for a larger preview.
Please feel free to take a look at other submissions as well (links to other galleries are listed in the end of this gallery).
Street wayfinding signs
Natural and simple
Natural and simple [ large preview ]
“Hiking path at the entrance of the Sierra Nevada in Merida Venezuela.” Photo taken by Ana Yunilda Sayago Morales from Merida, Venezuela.
Copper Park
Copper Park [ large preview ]
“Wooden signpost for hikers at trail crossing in the Philmont Ranch.” Licensed: cc-by. Photo taken by Miles Elliott from United States of America.
Machupicchu
Machupicchu [ large preview ]
“On the way to the Machu Picchu, Peru, February 2009.” Licensed: Attribution. Photo taken by Cedric Solichon from France.
Sign in the mountains
Sign in the mountains [ large preview ]
“This is a traditional sign wich you’ll fin in the bavarian mountains in Germany so you can find your way.” Licensed: All rights reserved. Photo taken by Helmuth Kraus M. from Colombia.
Make your choice
Make your choice [ large preview ]
“Chesterfield (UK): Where do we go?.” License: All right reserved. Photo taken by Matteo Palazzani from Italy.
Havre Fecamp
Havre Fecamp [ large preview ]
“Public signage near Havre and Fecamp cities.” Photo taken by NUnub from France.
Oulu university signage
Oulu university signage [ large preview ]
“University way-finding signage in Oulu University, Finland.” License: License (Creative Commons). Photo taken by Julia Birks from Australia.
Chitradurga-Fort
Chitradurga-Fort [ large preview ]
“This photo was taken at Chitradurga Fort located in Karnataka,India, describing the direction to Temples inside the fort.” Created by Vivek Kabra from India.
Signal in corner
Signal in corner [ large preview ]
“Hiden signals in a corner.” Created by Carla Tomé from Spain.
Canadian Weather Sineage
Canadian Weather Sineage [ large preview ]
“Taken in Ottawa, ON on the way to church after an ice storm.” Photo taken by Allan Descheneau from Canada.
Grunge Typo Costa Rica 2
Grunge Typo Costa Rica 2 [ large preview ]
“Typically costa rican reggae typography. The signage matches great with the beach at the background. I’ve made this photograph in Cahuita, Costa Rica.” Photo taken by Rick van Amersfoort from Netherlands.
Grunge Typo Costa Rica 3
Grunge Typo Costa Rica 3 [ large preview ]
“Typically costa rican reggae typography. Not only the style of the text is grungy/reggae, but the whole sign and the place where it stands too. I’ve made this photograph in Cahuita, Costa Rica.” Photo taken by Rick van Amersfoort from Netherlands.
Tuscany directions
Tuscany directions [ large preview ]
“Taken in Italy in 2007 when I couldn’t figure out where I was.” Photo taken by Mindi Leggett from USA.
London eye
London eye [ large preview ]
“Information board London eye.” Photo taken by Preben from United Kingdom.
London NewYork
London NewYork [ large preview ]
“Cycle from London to New York.” Photo taken by Preben from United Kingdom.
Malcom X blvd
Malcom X blvd [ large preview ]
“Malcom X Blvd. Entering Harlem, ei yo!.” Licensed: No commercial use. Designed by Nacho San Nicolás López from Spain.
Silence is all
Silence is all [ large preview ]
“Taken the day before Obama’s Inauguration in January 2009.” Photo taken by Maria Florencia Carrera from Argentina.
Signpost
Signpost [ large preview ]
“Signpost bungalowpark in Germany.” Licensed: Free. Photo taken by Cleiren from Netherlands.
Trail sign
Trail sign [ large preview ]
“Trial Sign Germany.” Licensed: Free. Photo taken by Cleiren from Netherlands.
Factory sign
Factory sign [ large preview ]
“In food factory sign - wash hands, properly dressed, with gloves and snood.” Licensed: Free. Photo taken by Vahid Smajlagic from BiH.
Exit expo shanghai
Exit expo shanghai [ large preview ]
“Exit Expo Shanghai 2010.” Photo taken by Vasovic from France.
Dubai Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR) Walk Buildings signage
Dubai Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR) Walk Buildings signage [ large preview ]
“In JBR each block of buildings signage has a unique signage design, and each design consists of two elements color and symbol, were violet represents Seashells (Sadaf in arabic), red represents Coral (Murjan), Blue for Sea (Bahar) and Orange for Sands (Rimal).” Licensed: Creative Commons. Photo taken by Anas Marwan from UAE.
Escaping Flatland in Japan
Escaping Flatland in Japan [ large preview ]
“This is a photo taken at the UDX Akihabara building in Tokyo, Japan. It is a marvelous visual representation of communicating 3-Dimensional directions to a user on a 2-Dimensional Surface. The sign gives 3 different views of information, with the 3-Dimensional view flanked on either-side by two different 2-dimensional perspectives to help users interpret the information.” Licensed: Open-License. Photo taken by David Issa from Japan.
From Here…
From Here… [ large preview ]
“A wooden directional sign in Haleiwa, HI.” Photo taken by Freddy Debebar from Hawaii, USA.
Media Centre for JARF 2010 at Leuweunggede
Media Centre for JARF 2010 at Leuweunggede [ large preview ]
“A signage to guide artists involved in the Jatiwangi Artist Residency 2010 to its Media Centre in Leuweunggede Village at Jatiwangi, Indonesia.” Licensed: All rights reserved. Designed by Haidar Afandi from Singapore.
Saadabaad palace
Saadabaad palace [ large preview ]
“Taken from a Sign in SaadAbaad Kakh[palace] in north of terhran.” Photo taken by Arash Haji Vaziri from Iran.
Manufaktura guideposts
Manufaktura guideposts [ large preview ]
“Interesting design of guideposts inside Manufaktura’s square.” Photo taken by Wojciech Jachowicz from Poland.
Decisons, Decisions
Decisons, Decisions [ large preview ]
“Signage in Chicago, IL.” Licensed: Lisa and Camera. Photo taken by Lisa Finholm from USA.
Mountain Distance Indicator
Mountain Distance Indicator [ large preview ]
“Mountain Distance Indicator in Bandarban, Bangladesh.” Created by Md. Akhlas Uddin from Bangladesh.
BPTGJDP
BPTGJDP [ large preview ]
“Large name for an avenue (one of the ex-presidents of the country).” Photo taken by Luis M. Braganza B. from Argentina.
Protesta Peatonal
Protesta Peatonal [ large preview ]
“Added text for a name of a street.” Photo taken by Luis M. Braganza B. from Argentina.
Sing on the sidewalk
Sing on the sidewalk [ large preview ]
“This is a sign on the side woalk indicating the locations of such places.” Photo taken by Carmen Sosia from USA.
Multi directional bus stop
Multi directional bus stop [ large preview ]
“This is an example of a downtown bus-stop, with GPS-based bus-arrival times and different signs, so it is readable from any angle.” Photo taken by Danny Wood from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
International Tree of Direction
International Tree of Direction [ large preview ]
“A sign Showing San Diego’s sister cities.” Photo taken by Steven Boepple from USA.
Puta
Puta [ large preview ]
“Puta (Bitch) signal in Denia (Spain).” Photo taken by Pablo Martinez from Spain.
Wacky Huka Prawn Park Signboard
Wacky Huka Prawn Park Signboard [ large preview ]
“Direction board at Huka Prawn Park, New Zealand with sense of humour.” Photo taken by Donna Harapan from Australia.
Hard rock cafe
Hard rock cafe [ large preview ]
“Heading to Hard Rock cafe in Catania Italy.” Created by Bogdan Attila from Romania.
Walk the Southampton walls
Walk the Southampton walls [ large preview ]
“This is a sign post inviting tourists to visit the historical walls of Southampton, UK.” Created by Catrinel Gheorghiu from Romania.
You are here signage
You are here signage [ large preview ]
“Photo of a ‘You are here’ location map from a street in Tokyo, Japan.” Photo taken by Paul Thompson from USA.
The Drop To Indonesia
The Drop To Indonesia [ large preview ]
“It is an interesting photo taken in Borneo Highland, Kuching, Malaysia. The noticeboard points out the border between Malaysian-Borneo with Indonesian-Kalimantan, which is a 600m cliff-drop, with a casual arrow DOWN. If you so much as try to step to to the edge to look down as the arrow shows, you might just fall to the catch of gorgeous Indonesian tropical rainforest, and there is no one to save/bring you up!” Licensed: Bernard Yong. Designed by Bernard Yong from Australia.
Contemporary Stone Age Signage
Contemporary Stone Age Signage [ large preview ]
“This sign is placed along a hiking route. I can imagine the residents of the farm to the right (prive means private in dutch) got a bit annoyed of having people wander about their house all the time. Their solution is very elegant design-wise in my opinion.” Photo taken by Pim van den Berg from The Netherlands.
Information
Information [ large preview ]
“Signage in Chicago, IL.” Licensed: Lisa and Camera. Photo taken by Lisa Finholm from USA.
Thank you!
Thanks to all participants for taking their time for preparing and sending submissions for the contest and creating a unique and diversified gallery presented above. We truly appreciate and respect your efforts and your time, folks!
Further Galleries
You may want to take a look at other contest galleries, too:
- Abstract and Weird Signs 1
- Abstract and Weird Signs 2
- Advertising and Promotional Signs 1
- Advertising and Promotional Signs 2
- Corporate Logos and Branding Signs
- “Forbidden” Signs 1
- “Forbidden” Signs 2
- Funny, Clever and Original Signs 1
- Funny, Clever and Original Signs 2
- Funny, Clever and Original Signs 3
- Graffiti and Hand-Written Signs 1
- Graffiti and Hand-Written Signs 2
- Hotel, Restaurant and Diner Signs 1
- Hotel, Restaurant and Diner Signs 2
- Hotel, Restaurant and Diner Signs 3
- Information and Instructional Signs 1
- Information and Instructional Signs 2
- Library Signs
- Monument and Memorial Signs
- Museum Signs 1
- Museum Signs 2
- Public and State Building Signs 1
- Public and State Building Signs 2
- Road and Street Signs 1
- Road and Street Signs 2
- Road and Street Signs 3
- Road and Street Signs 4
- Road and Street Signs 5
- School and Park Signs
- Shop and Store Signs 1
- Shop and Store Signs 2
- Shop and Store Signs 3
- Street Wayfinding Signs 1
- Street Wayfinding Signs 2
- Street Wayfinding Signs 3
- Street Wayfinding Signs 4
- Train and Airport Signs 1
- Train and Airport Signs 2
- Underground and Metro Signs
- Warning and Danger Signs 1
- Warning and Danger Signs 2
- Warning and Danger Signs 3
- Warning and Danger Signs 4
- Warning and Danger Signs 5
- Wayfinding in Buildings Signs 1
- Wayfinding in Buildings Signs 2
- WC and Restroom Signs 1
- WC and Restroom Signs 2
- Welcome Signs
- Other photos 1
- Other photos 2