A better way to denote row numbers I have noticed so many people wander the aisle of a theater and search diligently to find the row their seat is in. Often, if there is no usher, they ask the people already seated, "What row is this?". Even ushers have had to check and squint. There just has to be a better system to denote row numbers/letters. An efficient, easy-to-comprehend system might even reduce the need to have ushers escort people down to their rows. I set these objectives for row designations • Easily viewed in dim light. • Put info in an appropriate order of hierarchy. • Mount near aisle for access and legibility. • Somewhat consistent among theaters and venues. • Unobtrusive, to not demand or draw attention. • A sticker, plaque, or decal applicable to a variety of surfaces. Target audiences 1. Theatergoer who is seeking info and is an infrequent visitor to the venue. 2. Ushers who have yet to memorize all row designations. Some comp options While exploring the information, I decided the items needed their descriptors. Above: Testing readability on a theater seat in my house. The actual decals/plaques would be mounted on the backs of the seats, not the fronts. Below: Before & after: An option that works well Advantages • Centered copy allows it to be placed on either side of an aisle. • All pertinent info for verification of seats and section. • Reversed (light on dark) for easy readability in darkened theater and blending in with theater seats. • Sans serif block font for clarity and neutral adaptability. • Minimal size for subtlety. Sketches While observing the confusion while at the Beacon Theater in Manhattan, I sketched these notes on the program: I was exploring the information needed, the hierarchy order, and the layout placement. Better place to mount row numbers This is the new on the excellent Little Island park on the Hudson River. Above left: I challenge you to find where the row numbers are. Above right: the zoomed in and contrast-enhanced to show where the numbers are = low, on the concrete, and facing perpendicular to the viewer. Nobody else would’ve seen them. Then I noticed that the vertical post of each section of railing aligns with a row. Better, below: Mount row numbers on the railing posts, facing the viewer, at seat back height. They’re easily visible while walking down the aisle and mounted so that one's hand can still slide along the handrail. Similar story about eTickets. https://www.jamesrobertwatson.com/rownumbers.html