When I go to the shops or the mall I almost immediately look for a sign, I don’t want to be wandering from aisle to aisle or buying things I do not need but that are on special and so it makes sense to buy a product while it is at a good price is it not, so the directions help.
I can look for the department I need, once there a simple map stating the sections to find the various shopping items I need and Bobs your uncle. Whoever thought to come up with brightly designed, overhead display names is a genius.
You can see some great ‘artwork’ of interior signage if you click here but let’s take a quick look as to how it all came about shall we?
Understanding signage.
Knowing and finding out what we are looking at or learning about is going to be key for a better understanding of it all, in simple terms the word ‘signage’ refers to the communication of a message by using symbols and letter characters.
We can date the use of signs back to as early as the Roman and Egyptian times, often the shop fronts would have whitened areas out front to display advertisements or show notices of events that were happening. These were also, in most cases, made from stone.
Ancient Chinese had their fair share of advertisements showing a simple, sewing equipment makers shop to have an image of a white rabbit (meaning good luck) displayed outside which served well for those less fortunate to have formal education, the pictures became an aid and a blessing some would say, and people were often told to look for the stone rabbit out front.
As with all things technology, knowledge, and creativity evolves and thus the signs and uses thereof.
English law implemented a rule stating that should an establishment wish to produce and sell ales for consumption they were to advertise the service or risk the forfeit of such ales. Hence why we see every pub in the United Kingdom displaying a beautifully framed and crafted, cast iron framed image outside of a person thought to be of significance at the time.
And these don’t change as often as you would like to think, years of heritage hold these signs dormant, a constant reminder of the way things were.
As with the exterior things began to take a turn towards the interiors and artistry started to flourish. Shop and boutique owners would adorn the walls with their names, shopping centers hung large alphabet letters high on the pillars guiding people to where they needed to be, and this soon filtered into grocery stores till this very day.
How times have changed.
The inside of every food store has walls filled with colorful banners and well-designed wording confidently announcing what that section has to offer, you can find out more about them at https://www.cipretail.com/grocery-store/ and if you are venturing into the world of owning your store, any help is always much appreciated, am I right?
Some may seem them as an eyesore, but for the most part, we need them without even realizing it, and make for a greater, stress-free shopping experience if you ask me. Nobody would enjoy being in completely blank store, would they?
3 General functions of signs.
- Information. This is about 90% of the usage when it comes to signs, telling us about products and services, opening times and days, and an all-round leaflet of knowledge that gets straight to the point.
- Safety. A key element that was it not as big as they are, people would be in a whole heap of trouble, walking looking at their phones not paying attention. Head in the clouds, we need these monster billboards and alphabet glaring at us telling us to watch out.
There are plenty more reasons and detailed descriptions of signs so take that tea break and have a read about the uses, shapes, and innovations of signs for a deeper insight.
- Persuasion. A subtle way to ‘entice’ you into purchasing items you consider luxury as opposed to necessity, catchy lines, or well-designed pictures all work in harmony to get the product into your trolley.
But if its cake and you’re like me then you will need no convincing that it’s a ‘need.’