“Metro Pin” station sign debuts at new North Hollywood station entry portal

by ,
Metro Pin delivered by fabricator and being hoisted by crane at the project work site.
Metro Pin in place with new station portal and information display cases in background.

Metro’s brand new station identifier prototype marks its debut at the dedication of the North Hollywood station entry portal, opening to the public on Monday. Called the “Metro Pin,” the sign reaches dynamically toward busy Lankershim Boulevard. The idea is to stand out visually in a busy urban environment.

The new identifier prototype is substantially larger than previous Metro signs and includes an illuminated M, the station name and the word Metro for nighttime recognition.  The “Metro Pin” reflects Metro’s updated signage standards and uses the agency’s system-wide contemporary design station architecture. Efforts are underway to incorporate the new identifier into upcoming station construction projects.

The sign was developed by Metro Creative Services, other departments and the graphic design firm of Sussman/Prejza and Co. What do you think, riders?

 

Categories: Best Practices, Projects, Transit Service

Tagged as: , ,

33 replies ›

  1. This is a pretty ugly design, but maybe people will eventually get used to it. It looks rather cheesy in contrast to the pylons/wedges currently in use, which seen a bit more official.

  2. What a fugly, impractical design. Oh, that’s the designers point and we pay for it.

    Seriously METRO, please pull HOA and put your classic visible black-on-white M logo on the 7th/Metro portals. People unfamiliar with the area won’t notice the stealth antique bronze lettering fading into the side of the building. Almost the same issue with the LAUS portal.

  4. It’s become apparent that regardless of what is done, you people just like to complain. It’s simple, it’s sleek and that’s really it. The previous one’s were easily vandalized. Will not be the case with these since there is less surface area. Stop complaining all the time and learn to appreciate certain things in life, you’ll be a happier person!

    • Actually the new Metro Lollipops are even MORE prone to vandalism. There’s a lot of parts that can break off, the ring is too low to the ground (easy tag) AND someone high on meth is going to climb that pole within the first few months. Just watch.

  5. I like:
    -the height (easier to see far away)
    -nighttime viewing

    I dislike:
    -the slant (looks like earthquake damage that was never fixed)
    -the random shapes (who will know, or care, that a square = rail or triangle = bus?)

  7. BEAUTIFUL. I love that Metro is integrating a cleaner more contemporary design in it’s models. It’s a design that stands for innovation and the onset of the digital future. A pin, in millenial culture, leads someone to their destination. Very excited to see progress for the sake of progress.

  8. I like it. I would not consider this particular sign as informational, but more decorative. The angle gives it a more art feel.

  11. I hate it. Not only does it fail to improve on anything, it looks hideous. MTR’s exterior signs are simply the MTR logo, no need for anything else. The roads around it declare the station. On the other hand, this is senseless. A thin pole? Trying to “keep up with the times”? Don’t. It looks really unreliable.

    Look, spend money on new EMUs for Red and Purple lines first. Get more rolling stock for the Regional Connector. Refurbish stations with platform screen doors. Or maybe get some actual screens to replace the awful ones in stations. Anything is worth spending money on but new pylons.

  13. So ugly. I hate it. There should have been a vote or more community input in choosing the station sign.

  14. I agree that the wedge needs a redesign. The current “wedge” reads pseudo-retro to me. This is an awkward fit in connection to Metro’s sleek and modern brand. Unfortunately, the “pin” doesn’t work for me. I agree that it look too busy.

    On a bit of a tangent, I was in Mexico City recently. I feel that their signage was very easy to read and consistent throughout the system. What I appreciate most about the signs is their functionality yet aesthetic appeal. Many of the signs outside their stations read the equivalent of “Metro entrance” as the primary text with a secondary indication to the station name. Perhaps this is an angle that the sign redesign might consider. When you consider the function of such a sign, it makes quite a bit of sense. I would also recommend that the folks behind this project check out Mexico City’s systemwide signs. 🙂

  15. Looks genuinely awful. The older ones were much better. This seems incredibly cheap and flimsy.

  17. Can we have an official poll? It’s going to suck having to look at this hideous monstrosity across the county just because some supervisor with no taste approved this design. That circular non-sense also makes it 10x harder to read the station name.

    #savethewedge

    The old wedge design is nice, simple, functional, and takes up far less space. Not sure what benefit this new design has beyond making our Metro system look like a joke.

  18. Me no Like. The Metro Lollipop, as i call it, is not a very good design for several reasons:

    1) The station name on the ring cannot be seen in its entirety from any angle (unless it’s a short station name like “Pico..”
    2) It’s leaning design looks like some car hit it.
    3) It has too many parts/elements. For a piece of wayfinding, it’s extremely clumsy looking.
    4) It looks too delicate. It may even be damaged by a car (or even a bike, lol)
    5) The current one-piece wedge pylon is perfectly fine, especially now that some stations have the new standard black wedge. Now you’re going to replace them all?
    6) It looks too similar to the “Metro Liner” sign. Being this is next to the North Hollywood Orange Line station, it looks redundant.
    7) #savethewedge
    8) Unlike a real lollipop, this one ain’t sweet, sorry.

    • #Savethewedge! I agree. I think the wedge is a part of Los Angeles modern art deco type of look, which slowly is being forgotten for this simple “kit of parts” style. In all honesty, the wedges were the ONE thing that made our rail system uniform. Now, here we go.

  19. I like it, I think it has “pizzazz.” I also think it is far less important than the need to ameliorate the overcrowding on the Gold and Expo Lines. I’m already standing when I ride them, but I cannot give this new signage a standing ovation because there isn’t enough room around my arms for me to clap. Priorities, please?

  21. A nice modern design. Need to be creative and think out of the box. It will definitely attract attention.

  24. No disrespect to the “artist” of this sign but it looks TERRIBLE. I do not see why they need to change the signage.

    • Probably because the old signs were easily vandalized (stickers & scratchitti). With the new sign it looks like all the important station info is well above the reach of even tall people. And the support pole can easily be repainted as necessary.

    • That new pin sign has to be the ugliest sign I have seen in my life. The old Metro station signs were more classy looking like Los Angeles is. I am sorry to say the pin signs look like someone’s nightmare. And it is my hope Metro does not put up anymore.