Typography in Urban Environment (I): Vienna

Nowadays, graphic design along with digital technologies, is present in every sphere of public life. This predetermines their actual or potential ability to influence our living environment and even the quality of life. This report aims to present initial research and observations on graphic design (in particular typography) as part of a larger, multidisciplinary system responsible for shaping a particular urban environment. The cases examined concern practices in Vienna. The city has recently been ranked among the best cities to live in Europe by The Economist’s Economic Research Department. In 2018 and 2019, it was crowned the world’s most liveable city. In its study, The Economist identified five main evaluation criteria, two of which were “Culture and Environment” and “Infrastructure”. The starting point for the choice of the subject of this research is the current understanding of visual design as part of the system and methodology of design thinking. The term refers to the process of developing concepts (for products, services, objects, buildings, machines, etc.) by a designer or design teams. An innovative cognitive, strategic and practical approach based on the research of problems in depth and proposing solutions to them is applied as the solutions are considered aimed at the user, focusing exclusively on the person and his/her features, perceptions, and needs. Illustrative examples present the study and observations on the following: Tradition (continuity and preservation); Modernity (coexistence with tradition); Documenting policy cases and technology solutions for the urban graphical infrastructure.