Public Signage in Singapore
This research examined biases in public signage messaging across the city state and their role in gatekeeping access to its public and privatised urban spaces. Conducted over a summer, the study sought to (i) identify how language, content, and placement of signage might be perpetuating exclusion in public and privatised urban spaces and (ii) develop a framework to improve its fairness and effectiveness in shaping public behaviour.
Combining field documentation with a review of literature, policies, and regulations, the project provided a comprehensive analysis of how design, content, and placement influence accessibility and social dynamics. Findings highlighted implicit biases and unintended consequences embedded in public messaging, revealing asymmetries in communication that impact different communities unequally.
The resulting framework offers practical strategies to enhance inclusivity in public signage, leveraging behavioural, cultural, and regulatory insights to foster more effective and equitable policy communication in cities.
Team Members : Ishmam Ahmed.
Supervisor : Professor Joshua Comaroff.