All Episodes

July 8, 2025 5 mins
In this episode of Sign Criteria | Branding for the Built Environment, Reena and John explore the overwhelming, electrifying world of New York City signage—from pulsing Coca-Cola billboards to quirky corner shops and subway confusion.
 
Reena shares highlights from her recent overnight trip to NYC, where the signs of Times Square left a strong impression. John breaks down the tech behind dynamic LED displays and explains how robotic arms give static signage a living, breathing feel. The duo then contrasts high-budget brand displays with tiny mom-and-pop stores squeezed into closet-sized spaces—and ponders how any of them survive Times Square rent.
 
They dig into the true role of signage in chaotic environments: wayfinding. Why do some airports or cities still fail to guide people clearly, even with signs everywhere? And what can designers do better?

The episode wraps with a look at architectural landmarks like the Oculus and the memorial near Ground Zero, examining how form, emotion, and environment all shape the experience of public spaces.
 
Highlights include:
  • The science and spectacle of animated LED billboards
  • Street-level contrasts between major brands and micro-shops
  • Signage as orientation: lessons from airports and city centers
  • Why bad signage frustrates even signage professionals
  • Architectural inspiration from NYC’s Oculus and 9/11 Memorial
Whether you’re a sign designer, urban explorer, or simply love walking through big cities, this episode uncovers how signage and space combine to tell powerful stories.
_ _

Sign Criteria is hosted by John Lilly and Reena Friedman-Watts. For guest or sponsorship inquiries visit SignCriteria.com
Mark as Played

Advertise With Us

Popular Podcasts

Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang

Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang

Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.

Dateline NBC

Dateline NBC

Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

24/7 News: The Latest

24/7 News: The Latest

The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.

Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.