The Social in the Visual

BP’s green branding is being questioned more than ever in the wake of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. We can’t help questioning its smaller scale operations closer to home. Has anyone noticed how their bowsers seem to follow no logical progression in the placement of petrol pumps? Some bowsers start with the highest octane fuel at the left and the lowest at the right. One might assume a more logical progression would be to increase octane as you read left to right. The bowser pictured is less logical still. It shows the highest octane in the middle. Shouldn’t customers be allowed to assume that from one BP station to the next the set up at the bowser should be the same? After all, the company, like all oil companies, certainly has gone to great lengths to create station architecture that looks the same from one country to another. Others have noticed the questionable tactics going on at the bowser. Are BP catching people out, a few extra cents at a time, allowing them to pay for a higher octane fuel than they thought they were getting? We’d be interested in your thoughts on this.

These pics were taken at Warwick Station in Perth. The helpful machine speaks to tell you when the next train is coming. BUT the information for the train to Perth is on the FROM PERTH side of the platform. The information for the trains from Perth is on the TO PERTH side. Transperth, please, this is not rocket science, please fix this. At Figures we are of the belief that directional signage of any form is often a symptom that more fundamental aspects of wayfinding (unique landmarks, clear pathways, etc.) are not working as well as they should. When the signage is done the wrong way round like this, it exacerbates this symptom. It’s almost as if Dick Dastardly himself has flipped the signage to foil the other contestants in the race.