Designing displays for non-standard locations: lessons from airports

A supermarket aisle is a known environment: standard shelf heights, familiar traffic, predictable rules. Airports, stations, gyms or shopping-centre islands are not. The same display that works in a store can fail there for reasons that have nothing to do with design.

Start with the rules of the place. Public spaces have their own requirements for fire safety, materials, weight, stability and sharp edges, and the venue usually has to approve every piece before it is installed. Ask for these requirements before the first sketch, not after the first prototype.

Then think about how people really pass by. A traveller with luggage walks fast, looks up at signs rather than down at shelves and has seconds, not minutes. Large shapes, one clear message and a product that can be recognised from a distance matter more than detail.

Light and reflections change everything. Glossy surfaces that look great in a render can turn into mirrors under strong ceiling lights or daylight from large windows. Test materials in conditions similar to the real ones.

Plan for installation and daily life. Work often happens at night within a short window, the footprint is limited and the display will be cleaned, bumped and photographed by thousands of people. Modular parts, a stable base and surfaces that are easy to wipe save a great deal of trouble.

Finally, remember the audience is international. Keep copy short, make symbols and product visuals carry the meaning, and prepare language versions in advance. The best display in a non-standard location feels obvious: it is simply where people already look.