How to Design Kitchen Signage That Staff Follow

Restaurant kitchens are bustling spaces. And because of this, any instructional signs need to be clear in terms of both visual style and content. If your approach to signage is unclear, you’ll confuse staff, leading to more mistakes that slow down business. Your staff don’t have the time to read elaborate instructions. They need visuals that offer instructions that are obvious with a quick glance. Otherwise, it’s too easy to ignore signage in restaurant kitchens.

Stay with us as we explore the best practices for designing legible and high-impact signs. We’ll look at everything from visual design to location within your kitchen areas. Read on to learn how to create signage that your staff will notice and follow! 

Consider Your Kitchen

First, it’s important to be realistic about what your kitchen is like. Understanding the atmosphere can help inform more appropriate signage decisions. For instance, your cooks will be working quickly to meet tight deadlines and keep customers happy. There will be lots of noise from sizzling food, moving pots and pans, and communicating instructions and updates. That means you’ll need to create signage that considers the realities of your space. 

Consider what staff can reasonably see from their work stations. Think about moisture and grease levels, too, as you weigh materials for signs. And don’t overlook the reality that some staff members won’t speak English as their first language. You’ll need to factor these considerations into your signage choices. 

Create Signs That Can Be Read at a Distance

Keep in mind that most chefs, cooks, or waitstaff won’t be able to walk up and read signs at close range. In fact, most people won’t be closer than six feet to a given sign. In response, your signs should feature larger font sizes. Additionally, plan on keeping the text to a minimum. If you crowd too many words on a sign, it becomes harder to read. Aim for no more than 15 words per sign. 

Pay attention to font styles, as well. You need to do this when designing a website, and you need to consider fonts when designing signs, as well. While fonts with lots of embellishments can be appropriate for wedding invitations, they’re not ideal for kitchen signs. Opt for sans-serif fonts, which are pared down and visually cleaner. They’re easier to read in different lighting scenarios, too. Make sure you don’t compress the letters too much, and check the weight of your chosen font. If it’s too light, it will be tough to read from a distance. When you find a good font, stick with it across all signage for consistency in readability and branding.

Help Guide Your Readers

When you’re designing signs, you want to help your readers know the order in which they should read the text. After all, in bustling kitchens, your staff won’t have time to analyze signage. To get the point across quickly, stick to short, simple statements. Your headers should be brief and prioritize all caps. 

From there, you can include any necessary details in a slightly smaller text. Use bullet points for added clarity. And avoid unnecessary words to help keep your signs from looking too crowded. Ultimately, you want to get the message across simply and efficiently so staff members can focus on helping your business thrive. That way, you can turn your attention to building new menu items or shop three-compartment sinks online.

Use Visual Icons for Stronger Communication

Yes, words are the go-to choice when it comes to communication. But when space and time are limited, visuals can communicate more effectively in some instances. Most importantly, they can communicate a concept to anyone, regardless of their primary language. This helps promote better comprehension of rules and directions. 

Choose icons that are simple in design and easily recognizable. For instance, images of hand washing can be placed above sinks. Or temperature iconography can help communicate food safety rules. Use strong lines and contrasts. Use darker text against white or light backgrounds. Choose a color like red for especially important information. And stay away from colors that lack contrast or vibrate too much. Red text on an intense green background could be too hard to read. And overly glossy surfaces could be difficult to see under intense kitchen lights. 

Choose Durable Signs

Kitchens endure a lot of moisture and messiness each night of service. You’ll need to design signs that can stand up to the harsh conditions. Select materials for your signs that are easy to wipe. They shouldn’t fade under the lights or sustain damage from moisture. 

Materials like laminated plastic or PVC will stand up to wear and tear in your kitchen. They won’t peel or fade over time. Sturdier materials will also communicate that you take the rules seriously. Paper signs, by contrast, might look like an afterthought. 

Consider Sign Placement

You won’t get much mileage out of your signs if no one ever looks at them. That’s why it’s critical to consider where you place your signs within a kitchen. For instance, any signage connected to prep work should be placed right above the prep tables. Likewise, instructions for proper hand washing should sit above sink areas, and sanitizing rules should be posted at washing stations. 

Place signs at a height where people are likely to see them. Make sure they’re not obstructed by objects or equipment. And review your signs regularly. Despite the best materials, they could fade or become hidden over time. Further, you could shift the rules, meaning that the signs become outdated. Work with your staff to ensure that signs are readable and clear. If signs are too cumbersome to read or tough to find, plan on making changes.

Design the Best Kitchen Signs

Kitchen signage is an important tool in your restaurant or food-focused business. But if signs are too wordy or unclear, they won’t be doing their jobs well. You want signs to be helpful guides for your staff as they navigate busy nights in the kitchen. Choose strong, readable fonts and use enough contrast in your sign designs. Select durable sign materials and place your signs in highly visible places. With the right decisions, you can maximize the impact of signs in your kitchen.