Typography and tourism places: The case of the English seaside resort

Abstract

This article examines tourism through the prism of graphic design, providing an analysis of the relationship between typography and popular English seaside resorts. Along Blackpool's, Brighton's and Scarborough's promenades, typefaces are observed, categorised, and mapped; additionally, we depict significant typefaces and discuss their characteristics. The research methods employed also provide a template to explore other typographical environments. The research findings reveal, for the first time, that certain combinations of typographical usage have become a distinct attribute of tourism design within the built environment of these resorts. Moreover, this is the rationale for a proposed typographic reference resource, enabling businesses and Destination Management Organisations to make better-informed design and marketing decisions.