Geotype Submission

The Geotype project charts the rich history of lettering and type forms that have established the identity of cities and towns around the world. Explore the map

How does this letter-form communicate its location?

Long Street is one of Cape Town’s most improbable and exciting streets and a jumble of seeming contradictions where prim Victorian architecture sits alongside cheap kiosks and African start-ups (Cape Town’s Iconic Long Street, 2021). An African kiosk is advertised in a bold, vibrant, colourful manner using Helvetica for clear communication. The mid-weighted font is striking and simplistic. It says what it is in an uncomplicated way. These businesses have limited funds, and the use of corrugated, container material is commonplace due to cost and security. The typography would have been stencilled onto the red container using inexpensive paint.

Location

Church Street & Long Street, Cape Town City Centre, Cape Town, South Africa