I am working on a documentary about the origin of the Standard Alphabet as the official lettering on road signs in the United States and many other countries. Along the way I am interviewing academics, traffic professionals, and enthusiasts. Since its humble origins as a block letter alphabet in the late 1920s, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Standard Alphabet Series E Modified has spread around the world including the Americas, Asia, Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand, and Europe. Despite its popularity, the Standard Alphabet is gradually being replaced by other typefaces. This project explores the story of this ubiquitous, yet mysterious typeface. It reveals the people and projects that developed this remarkable typeface and details the pioneering readability specifications which are still in use today. The film will feature interviews by academics, transportation professionals, and fabricators to provide insights into the backstory for the signs we see every day but rarely observe.
Documentary
The film project, interviews, research arc, and production notes.