The designer behind the UK's ubiquitous food hygiene rating stickers has taken to social media to reveal the clever hidden details she incorporated into the design sixteen years ago.
The Hidden Design Elements
Shahnaz Ahmed, who was just 25 years old when she created the concept for the Food Standards Agency (FSA), explained several 'tiny design decisions' in a recent TikTok video that most people have never noticed. Now 41, she asked her followers if they had spotted the subtle features she 'hid' in the green and black signs that adorn windows of restaurants, takeaways, and other food businesses across the nation.
Shahnaz highlighted that the letter 'i' in both 'hygiene' and 'rating' on the stickers are actually represented by a tiny knife and fork symbol, a nod to the FSA's own logo. She described this touch as 'a little bit of joy for your everyday'.
Why the Numbers Look Like Buttons
Another clever detail involves the rating numbers themselves. Shahnaz added a translucent 'sheen' effect to make them appear like physical buttons. She explained the reasoning behind this: 'Because ratings can change with each inspection, so lower ratings could 'press' their way up to a five... or press their way down.'
She did note, however, that the sheen is sometimes printed more strongly than intended in her original design file, playfully absolving herself of responsibility if this particular detail bothers anyone.
Consistency in Design
The designer also revealed that the angle of the black triangle pointing down to the number rating is mathematically derived from the angle found in the letter 'y' of 'hygiene' above it. 'Why? It was there for the taking,' she said. 'And every good design uses consistency where possible.'
Shahnaz emphasised that good design isn't about what people immediately notice, but about what feels instinctively right. She described her work as a combination of elements intended for the viewer and others included purely for the 'quiet joy of the designer'.
Public Reaction and Scheme Details
The revelations prompted an enthusiastic response on social media. One user praised the design as being 'so iconic now... that you don't even consider how it's put together, because it just works so well!' Another confessed they had never noticed the details before, while a third commended the stickers as 'a great lesson in conveying important information in a clear, easy to understand way'.
It is important to remember that these hygiene ratings provide a snapshot of standards found during an inspection and cover key areas like food handling, storage, preparation, cleanliness, and safety management. The scheme does not, however, assess food quality, customer service, or culinary skill.
A key distinction in the scheme's application is that while businesses in Wales and Northern Ireland are legally required to display their rating, this is not the case in England and Scotland.
