GRABTHAI Bespoke hanging illuminated signage
Signmaking can often make for hungry work, but working on these restaurant signs was a real treat. We’d assisted Pod Foods as they went from a singular branch to a chain of 16, fitting each site with new signage, as well as menu and price changes overnight. That’s when Chusana Prasertkul, the MD of Grab Foods, approached us for the creation and installation of collection point signage and large scale logos, as she worked to grow the GrabThai brand.
There was already a small branch down the end of our street and we were thrilled to hear about the company’s plans to expand, starting off with two pivotal spots – one at London’s famous Leadenhall Market, and one in the One New Change centre at St Paul’s.
Our first job was to create two bespoke illuminated signs to hang in the front windows of the outlet in One New Change. The space, while great for the intended functionality of a take away lunch spot, was quite a squeeze to move around and fit a sign in.
Nevertheless, we built up the company’s wordmark logo from opal faced, rimless letters on a box section frame, and then attached the tagline in a pop of orange painted acrylic. To avoid taking up precious space, these were hung neatly off some swanky silver bars and ceiling plates, allowing City workers to see the sign above the crowds and be seduced by it.
The Leadenhall shop was similar but it had its own, awesome quirk – the interior still contained all the original butcher’s hooks and rails, once used to display their sharp wares and meaty produce.
We were restricted in how much structural change we could make to the lot, so we decided to upcycle these original elements – roping chains into them to hang a large, cold-rolled steel panel, producing a super industrial sign that feels pretty special in situ.
This was set with the company’s logotype, put together using black painted halo illuminated lettering. The cold white lights utilised here really sear through the yellow and red warmth of London’s iconic covered market, creating a refreshing visual that you just can’t miss.
