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This long-forgotten signage from Argentina is World Cup design at its best
Designers created an ingenious and economical signage and wayfinding system for the 1978 Argentina World Cup. This largely forgotten work is now being celebrated in a new book reproducing the original standards manual. The system, called Puntograma, used a modular, grid-based approach for easy reading and scaling. It was constructed from white buttons affixed in patterns on perforated panels to create shapes, symbols, and letters. Red buttons were used for warnings. This pre-digital wayfinding solution was designed by Carlos Méndez Mosquera and Gus Bonsiepe. The system was scalable and could be assembled on-site by workers. It included a custom typeface, arrows, pictograms for amenities, and unique stadium logos. The book, printed to the same standards as the original, is available for preorder. This systematic design solution was a first for a large event in Argentina.