Signage (V&A and Tate)

How do the typeface choices made by the signage designers create meaning? Consider both the overall style of the signs within the context of their site, as well as the topic of the exhibitions etc. that they refer to?
(Tate) The signage specific the new documentary forms exhibition were spacious and simple I think as this were referencing destruction and documenting this, the type looked factual which I think is important if you had some eroded bold type used this may mis-lead you to think it's fictional or may impact your impression of the work. For example Guy Tillim's photography of the South African riots i personally felt i was part of the rioters whereas some others may feel that they are against them and appalled at the photo? Using a simple san serif type leaves you no opinion of the work, yet it's clear and short on the important information. The exhibition signage was left align quite traditional but using a legible san serif typeface for the ease of reading.
(V&A) Post modernist exhibition - the signage in this exhibition differs a lot from the the photography above they gave a clear understanding of what the exhibition is about the style of work you are about to see. The signage was on coloured slabs against the wall with back lighting highlighting the colour even more, some with black and white patterned boarders. The exhibition contained of a lot coloured lighting I instantly thought of the eighties the use of hollow tall fixed width type with neon lighting. The idea of post modernism was quirky imaginative style that was contemporary at the time which was used from the seventies and eighties. The tall typefaces used for the signage usually is classed as retro yet lately I have seen a lot of this typography yet without connoting the eighties. 


In what ways would you say the examples you have observed are demonstrating typographic trends?
(V&A) Especially the V&A signage examples, as I blogged earlier the return of the tall condensed san serif typeface such as knock out are being used in a lot of publications and advertising. However cleverly in the post modernism exhibitions this similar style was used to show the information, due to the lighting surround the information this made it feel more retro with the neon lighting, almost like an eighties nightclub. (I found out on the v&a website that font is Compacta BT.) "They have gone for a palette of materials appropriate to the period, but rarely encountered in exhibition spaces (at least at the V&A): neon, coloured perspex, and lots of slick wallpaper with patterns and supergraphics. Here are some of the samples they've produced:"

http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/exhibitions/postmodernism/postmodernism-creating-the-exhibition/

How do the signage examples you have observed demonstrate the designer's abolity to work withing the constraints of a design brief?
(V&A) the post modernism exhibition has managed to reflect the eighties era without over doing it and being too obvious, they have thought not just about the type used but how it is displayed, colours, lighting and materials used. This kind of thinking is what makes this successful. So on the Thames poetry I shouldn't only be thinking about typography, which obviously is important and a key element, but the colours, material or surface I wish my poems to be displayed on to reflect the meaning/impression I wish to portray. This also answers the next question of 'How does the signage you have observed inspired you with ideas for your own signage' which is to not be too obvious and think of subtleties that majority of people will connote the same thing.