I’m not a day-in, day-out runner, but when I do run along the streets of Brooklyn, I love to people (and dog) watch. That was essentially impossible last week as I ran amidst empty streets and vacant businesses.

Instead, I found myself paying attention to the road signs along my route. I’ve seen them countless times, but with each footstep, I really focused on what they were telling me: cross the street, do not enter, no parking, speed bump ahead.

These were the rules of the road just weeks ago. Now they’re less important. Today, society needs constant reminders to socially distance, stay home, protect our elders, and much more. It crossed my mind that these universally recognizable street signs could be totems for the messages we need in these unprecedented times.

These images represent that exploration. How could socially critical communication tools like street signs help us adapt to the new normal? Conceptual in nature, we’re not suggesting actual street signs be modified. Our hope is these images serve as a love letter to the places we live (NYC for me). The people we miss. And all that unites us, even when we have to keep at least six feet apart.

Text and Images by Dylan Coonrad, AIGA, Creative Director of CannonDesign

Dylan’s mission is simple: think differently, make beautifully. As a graphic designer and architect, he leads CannonDesign’s graphic design team and oversees our firm’s visual identity and approach to creative marketing. He draws on his passion for architecture’s ability to improve the human condition in his role as master storyteller, solving communication problems with stories that capture the essence of complex architectural, engineering, sustainable design and UX concepts in the context of our clients’ aspirations.

About CannonDesign

CannonDesign is an integrated Living-Centered Design Firm. We leverage the heart, passion and intelligence of our more than 1,000 creative thinkers to develop solutions for some of the greatest challenges facing our clients and society.