Let's move onto Maine! New Highway shields

[papaT10932]

I love everything about Maine except their boring highway route markers. They make Connecticut's square look creative! (At least its a square and not a BLANK SIGN)  

Here are two designs I put together for our friends in the beautiful Pine Tree State. Please post any ideas you may have for a new Maine route shield. And, as with my NJ thread, if anyone is able and willing to reproduce my ideas with more accurate technology (I used MS paint, sorry!) or wants to tinker with these designs, please feel free!
                         

[Ian]

Not bad, especially the moose design! I made another Maine shield but it was a number with a graphic of a red lobster on the bottom.

[Duke87]

The moose is silly-looking, but the state shape works.

[ctsignguy]

I dunno....Dangermoose (Jake) might like that one....

but more seriously, too many squares in New England (at least New Hampshire's is REASONABLY different with teh Old Man on the Mountain....)

...The Boring Square (TM) > relic of the long gone original Interstate highway system in New England....

[papaT10932]

If I remember correctly from US History class... Maine became a state in 1820 (as part of the Missouri Compromise), which means Maine will be celebrating its bicentenial in ten years. What a great time to update its highway shields. I think that's a great selling point.

[ctsignguy]

How about a lighthouse?

[papaT10932]

How about a lighthouse?

I thought about doing a lighthouse, but it may look too similar to the Long Island Parkway system shields.... but if you can make it happen, by all means! From your input I see you are much more creative than I am!

By the way ctsignguy.. any updates on the Conn sign front?

[ctsignguy]

i still need to call Jeff....things have been a bit in crazy-mode on my end as we are expecting Medicaid surveyors at my day job any time now....

[froggie]

IMO, Maine's shape doesn't lend itself well to having the route number within the state outline.  Because of this, I'd suggest doing either something similar to Minnesota's route shield, or something comparable to what I created for New Jersey...

[papaT10932]

IMO, Maine's shape doesn't lend itself well to having the route number within the state outline.  Because of this, I'd suggest doing either something similar to Minnesota's route shield, or something comparable to what I created for New Jersey...

Whatever a new design looks like, it has to be sellable to the Maine DOT. Although I think your NJ shields look great, having a colorful sign is usually dooming from the start.
I didn't really like them at first, but the more I look at the state outline designs above, the more I like them. They look like solid signs. And another selling point, which I didn't think of until now, is that those could be used for pole signs. But, because they are simple enough and not a drastic change from square white signs, route shields on BGS's wouldn't necessarily have to be replaced. Those could remain as blank white signs for better legibility.

[vdeane]

I think the state shape ones look great.

[OracleUsr]

If you use a lighthouse, your best bet might be the top of the Cape Elizabeth or Seguin Island Lighthouses, or the famous Portland Head light.

I have to admit, though, the state shape is probably the best of the 3 at the top.  Moose head looks too much like Bullwinkle to me.

[papaT10932]

The tricky thing about displaying a lighthouse image on a highway marker is its shape could easily be mistaken for the number one- Unless the lighthouse is small enough. But if its not prominent, then why have one?

I was also thinking of a pine tree. I imagine it would be hard to fit a 3 digit number inside a pine tree, however. Maybe perhaps a pine cone??

[froggie]

Someone suggested a pine tree in another thread.

My thought at the time (and still is) is that pine trees = evergreen = Pacific Northwest.

[Dougtone]

Someone suggested a pine tree in another thread.

My thought at the time (and still is) is that pine trees = evergreen = Pacific Northwest.

But Maine is the Pine Tree State, which would put a pine tree or pine cone into consideration.

Still, I think a Minnesota or South Carolina style route shield would work best if Maine was to get a more unique looking route shield.  However, I would think a silhouette of the State of Maine or a lobster would work best.

[papaT10932]

How about a Nebraska inspired Maine shield?

  <--- BGS's     General Use --->  

[Brandon]

^^ Cool!  I like that Nebraska-inspired one.  It's neat, and practical.  The state shape is a bit odd for a state-shaped shield (too many states are, IMHO), and the moose is a bit silly.

[mightyace]

^^^

I agree, too.

Especially with that Serif font for Maine gives it an old-type (Retro) look.

[Dougtone]

^^ Cool!  I like that Nebraska-inspired one.  It's neat, and practical.  The state shape is a bit odd for a state-shaped shield (too many states are, IMHO), and the moose is a bit silly.

I really like the Nebraska-inspired shield as well, both for guide signs and as stand-alone shields.  The serif font also works, and has a look that is similar to what is on Maine's license plates.

I do, however, am going to suggest a similar shield design that isn't as busy.  I have a feeling that if MDOT was to change their shield design, they would want to use something that is relatively simple.

[yakra]

Should I have another Shipyard before replying to this thread? Aw hell...
I made a Fantasy Shield for Maine a while back rather similar to the OP's efforts:

Taking another look now, it kinda looks like arse. Maybe I'd move the state outline slightly right, and shrink the font, keeping the numerals to the bottom right. Whiting out the areas surrounding the numerals kinda like an OK Meat Cleaver shield.
Shrink it all too much though and you start to lose legibility. Know what, might as well keep the square!

I gotta go on record as disapproving of lopstah and lighthouses. howevah. There are significant portions of the state that, contrary to potrzebie opinion, are not on the coast. I don't think it'd go ovah too well in The County, bud.

[yakra]

And for shazbots & giggles, if we numbered toll roads inna PA stylee:

[florida]

I really do like the Scenic shield type, the colors contrast well.

That woman from Alaska would shoot the moose signs!

[papaT10932]

That woman from Alaska would shoot the moose signs!

You betcha!

[mhallack]

I like the first state design sign, 2nd one, eh. Moose, NO! Likely people will take it as a watch for moose sign, which we already have.