Artifact Type: Button Badge
Title: VIA Good to See You
Year: 1980s
Designer: Uncredited
Gerhard Ade, Michael Williams (VIA Logo)
Studio: Uncredited
ARC Montréal (VIA Logo)
Client: VIA Rail Canada
Size: 45mm X 70mm (oval)
Condition: Very Good
Collection: Canada Modern Archive
It was during the early—mid 1980s that the introduction of blue made an appearance into VIA Rail’s corporate colour palette (expanding on yellow / black / brown / grey). This medium/large oval shaped pin-back badge utilized the iconic blue and yellow scheme along with bilingual communication messaging ‘Good to See You’ / ‘Content de vous voir’, which has been set in such a tight fashion that the poor graphic reproduction has bled between letters — giving the appearance that it was set in something akin to Neville Brody’s typeface Blur (which did not come out until 1992). Due to the consumer facing messaging it is assumed that this badge was worn by railway staff, especially those operating within roles dealing directly with the travelling public.
The VIA Rail logo was created in 1976 by Gerhard Ade and Michael Williams whilst at studio ARC Montréal. For more information visit the dedicated logo post here
