Illuminated Signage Options
If you’re looking at LED illuminated office signs for the first time, the range of options can feel a bit much. Two of the most popular choices are halo illumination and face illumination, and they give genuinely different results, even though both use the same LED technology underneath.
Halo illumination lights the wall behind the sign rather than the sign itself. LED modules sit behind the letters or logo, so light spills out around the edges and creates a soft glow on the surface behind it. It’s a subtle effect, and it works beautifully in reception areas where you want a premium, considered look rather than something that shouts for attention.
Face illumination works the other way round. The front of the letters themselves lights up, so the sign glows directly rather than casting light behind it. This tends to suit spaces where visibility and legibility matter most, particularly larger signage or anywhere viewed from a distance.
What’s the difference between halo and face-illuminated signage?
In short: halo illumination lights the wall behind your sign for a soft glow around the edges, while face illumination lights the letters themselves so the surface glows directly. Both give beautiful results. It really comes down to the effect you’re after and where the sign is going.
Material choice plays into this too. Acrylic signs take face illumination particularly well, since light passes through the material evenly, giving a bright, even glow across the whole letterform. Metal signage is a natural fit for halo illumination, since the solid front means light has to escape from behind rather than through the face, creating that soft, glowing outline effect.
There’s genuinely no wrong choice between the two. Reception areas love a gentle halo glow that draws the eye without dominating the room, while exterior and larger-format signage often shines with the bolder, brighter statement face illumination makes possible. Some of our favourite projects have even combined both approaches within the same space, using face illumination for a main entrance sign and halo lighting for a softer feature piece nearby, giving a building real depth and character after dark as well as during the day.
Colour plays a role too. LED modules can be set to warm white, cool white, or increasingly, colour-changing options, opening up even more creative possibilities depending on how a brand wants its space to feel. Whichever direction appeals most, illuminated signage is one of the most rewarding upgrades a workplace can make, transforming a plain wall or entrance into something people genuinely notice and remember.
Our design team talks every client through both options before anything gets manufactured, with visuals so you can see exactly how each would look in your space rather than guessing from a description. If you’re ready to explore halo or face-illuminated signage for your office, get in touch with Bespoke Office Signs today and we’ll help bring your vision to life.