Network Sans

The original base character set for the Network Sans type family, c.2017.

↑ Sample of the extent of the Network Sans type family made available exclusively for use by Public Transport Victoria as at January 2025 (Italics and additional weights not shown).

↑ Work-in-progress within the design team at Public Transport Victoria

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Network Sans is the official type family of the public transport system throughout the state of Victoria, Australia. It appears on signage, promotional and safety material throughout the state on metro and regional trains, trams, buses, ferries and more. This has meant it has been applied to a wide array of substrates and surfaces including enamel station and stop signage, various digital screens including Public Information Displays (PIDs) as well as billboards, printed posters and decals for walls and and floors to name a few.

Network Sans is also integrated into the Wayfound Victoria wayfinding programme which is available to any municipal body and provides a signage system for walking and general navigation. So far Wayfound has been adopted by Melbourne, Maribyrnong, Port Phillip, Stonnington and Yarra city councils with a view to streamlining way-finding throughout the state.

The goal was to unite a complex system of public-private providers, modes and routes under the one easily-identifiable system. When you see Network Sans you should be able to recognise where you are and where you are going. Alongside the typeface—which plays a pivotal role—there are also suites of colours, way-finding forms and products, textile patterns, print templates, on-screen and app-based templates and more.

The development of Network Sans has taken place in stages with extensions created as the need arose. Starting out as a multi-weight family of Sans and Sans Italics, it has grown to include Network Neo & Network Geo versions adapted for specific purposes such as on platform place-naming (often with rounder, more circular counter-spaces and wider forms). From this a series of Condensed versions were extrapolated and original letterforms adjusted and updated for enchanted clarity, especially on screen.

Development began in-house at Public Transport Victoria with many stakeholders from in and around the design team contributing to its evolution. This meant letterforms could be trialled within real world scenarios and in proposal work (the earliest version appearing on directional signage along the bridge at Footscray station). Design team staff even got their own desk name plates set in the new typeface.

Adoption has been wide-spread, particularly within wayfinding and navigation systems although private operators can still choose to employ different typefaces for their own promotional material based on their specific identity guidance. Network Sans is also playing a leading role within the promotion and rollout of the imminent Metro Tunnel project appearing on posters, hoardings and within social media campaigns where animated text is also a key tool in grabbing viewers attention. ●