Signage has a big impact on the character of the building it is designed for, and their design should attempt to blend with the historic nature of the building itself, as well as respond to other architectural features that the building may possess. Many of our historic shopfronts are based in classical proportions, which should be adhered to when considering adding shopfront signage. A sign that is too large for the space it should be occupying will detract from the shop and possibly the street scene as a whole.
Many historic shopfronts will have a dedicated space above the windows for a sign to be attached, usually indicated by a central blank space and the cornicing detail rising from the ground floor, providing attractive stops at the boundaries of the area. This is called a fascia.
Hand painted signage is preferred in most circumstances. For shops with a large shopfront window and a lack of fascia, signage that is applied to the glass can also provide a pleasing addition to the appearance of the shop.
When choosing colours for the signs on your shop, you should consider the palette of the surrounding buildings, as well as any historic features of your shopfront- for example, if you have colourful glazed tiles, complementary tones and colours to the surrounding paintwork can allow this historic feature to stand out more, and create a more striking shopfront. Rich, traditional colours or pastel tones are generally appropriate, avoiding the use of very bright colours.
Things to avoid
- Bright, gaudy colours
- Large vinyl signs that are not correctly proportioned for the fascia
- Vinyl stickers that block out the window should be avoided- shops should seek to utilise their large window for display purposes
- Additional and unnecessary signage or information boards that adds to a cluttered or unorganised appearance
