Initial, targeted engagement captured insights from local traders, residents and visitors through pop-ups, intercept sessions and an online survey. Across both locations, feedback highlighted strong community connection, vibrant food and café culture, and a valued village-like atmosphere. Bay Street participants emphasised its friendly feel, independent businesses, coastal identity and reputation as a destination for fresh food and dining. Martin Street participants highlighted its eclectic mix of shops, welcoming community, heritage character and reputation as a “hidden gem” with a calm but lively personality.

Participants were asked: “What key themes best represent this shopping strip and should be celebrated in a welcome sign?” In total, 56 people provided feedback through intercept sessions and/or the online survey.

• ‘Great selection of shops and fresh food.’
• ‘We have a lot of well-established businesses that provide quality goods or services.’
• ‘It has a village feel rather than a generic retail-strip feel.’
• ‘Village country town feel.’
• ‘This is the most friendly strip—people smile, and there are lots of dogs.’
• ‘Friendly traders invested in the community.’
• ‘Bay Street feels distinct because it still has a genuine neighbourhood identity while offering a curated mix of independent businesses, hospitality and services.’
• ‘The station location is good for the sign—the midpoint where people go to meet.’

The most common themes participants wished to celebrate in Bay Street were ‘Food scene and cafe culture’, followed by ‘Local community’, ‘Nature and environment’, ‘Local history and heritage’ and ‘Multiculturalism’. When asked if there were any other aspects that should be celebrated in the welcome sign participants mentioned:

• Bay Street as a destination for fresh food, wine and dining
• Local heritage, coastal setting and beach culture
• The area as a wellness destination
• A community-centred, dog-friendly place with a relaxed atmosphere
• Support for local businesses and shop tenancy
• Some participants supported the signage but did not express a design preference

Participants were asked: “What do you think makes this shopping strip special or unique?” with 53 responses.

• ‘Eclectic nature of the shops, not your everyday brands.’
• ‘Good mix of shops and places to eat.’
• ‘Personal experiences. Strong relationships.’
• ‘I like having older/younger people all walking dogs—everyone knows everyone.’
• ‘People feel really at home here.’
• ‘Really nice people, good vibes.’
• ‘Local personality, not trying to be anything else.’
• ‘The proposed end for the sign we call the Paris end—it's a very European style.’
• ‘The value of it is accessibility/transport.’
• ‘Peaceful, nice and quiet, good shops.’
• ‘Village feel, friendly atmosphere.’

When asked what key themes best represent Martin Street and should be celebrated in a welcome sign, the most common themes were ‘Local community’ and ‘Local food scene and cafe culture’, followed by ‘Multiculturalism’ and ‘Local history and heritage’. Participants were also invited to share other aspects that should be celebrated, including:

• Acknowledging Martin St as the gateway to Bayside.
• The local heritage, building look and feel, plantings and plane trees.
• Integrating the local school.
• Celebrating and including the businesses on the Nepean Highway side of the strip.
• Celebrating local Polish, Jewish and Italian cultures.
• Supporting local businesses and maintaining public spaces in the high street.

Participants suggested that the signage should be bright, colourful, and have visually engaging elements, such as photo-friendly features.

The following suggestions were provided for a Martin Street welcome sign:

• Celebrate local identity as a ‘village’; highlighting warmth, friendliness, and a small, local feel. Phrases like “Welcome to our village” and “hidden treasure” strongly resonate and can anchor the tone of all signage.
• Highlighting community values (friendly, calm, diverse, down-to-earth, lively at night) into visual elements that communicate both daytime calm and evening vibrancy.
• Communicating that the precinct is not a large commercial hub but a unique, slower-paced, community-focused shopping strip.
• Celebrating what makes the area special; such as its diversity, accessibility, and convenience.

The signage concepts presented have been shaped by the individual character, context and community of their respective activity centres. Rather than a uniform approach, each design takes its cues from the particular qualities of its location—its streetscape, history and everyday rhythm—so the signage feels like it belongs. All concepts share a warm, engaging aesthetic that celebrates what makes each shopping strip distinct, amplifying local flavour and character.

• Bay Street option 1

The Edwardian lacework routed into the timber post draws directly from the architectural character of the street, while the typographic pattern on the third post is built from fragments of real signage and advertising pulled from historical images of Bay Street. Early in the process we drew inspiration from the engagement report's description of the street as having a vibrant village atmosphere, but in discussions with Council we shifted focus toward the heritage and built form of the strip.

• Bay Street option 2

This concept uses the same Edwardian lacework with a cleaner, more contemporary treatment. The design is routed and colour-infilled into timber, with bold machine-cut lettering that sits comfortably between old and new. It's the most understated of the options, designed to feel at home in the streetscape rather than compete with it, while still reflecting the heritage and neighbourhood identity that locals said makes Bay Street distinct.

• Martin Street option 1

This option uses a mix of brightly painted metal and timber posts to reflect the mix of characters that makes Martin Street what it is: relaxed but vibrant, local but diverse. The bold colours and patterns are a direct response to engagement feedback, which called for something that celebrated the street's eclectic personality and multicultural community.

• Martin Street option 2

Inspired by Charles and Ray Eames' House of Cards game, interlocking panels carry patterns drawn directly from the strip: shopping bags, train tracks, a diamond nodding to the community's own "hidden gem" description. The bright palette reflects the street's friendly, welcoming personality and the genuine pride locals have in it.