Welcome to the Sign Design Society
The Sign Design Society (SDS) is for anyone interested in information and graphic communication within buildings and public spaces, including:
- Wayfinding
- Interpretative graphics
- Brand and experiential/environmental graphics
- Statutory and health & safety signs
As well as raising the profile of our disciplines, we offer members a programme of events, resources and initiatives to help them:
- Keep up to date and improve their practice
- Find potential consultants, collaborators & employees
- Promote their work and capabilities
To join choose a membership plan that suits you and sign up!
Our events
Discover what’s positive and exciting in the world right now for wayfinding and placemaking, from bold, people-first design to smart new tech.
15 October 2026 (1pm BST) Approachable, friendly, and playful – these are the qualities most often associated with rounded sans typefaces in Europe. Yet these associations are far from universal. In Japan, rounded sans are often the voice of authority – they are not only far more commonly used in public typography than in many […]
Interested in a membership?
News
2nd edition Sign design guide now available to buy!
The new edition of the guide continues to provide practical guidance to experts and non-specialists alike, based on both best practice in inclusive design and the latest research.
Third party events
An international conference organised by the Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design in September 2026 invites speakers, participants and delegates. 2026 sees the 40th anniversary of the original New Design for Old exhibition, which Lady Helen Hamlyn curated in the Boiler House at the V&A in 1986. To mark this momentous moment in time, INCLUDE 2026 takes place in September at the Royal College of Art in Battersea, London. INCLUDE 2026 will offer a space to pause, reflect and critically examine the ongoing evolution of inclusive design.
We will explore how design research and practice considers ageing, gender, diverse abilities, neurodiversity, economic status, culture and social identity.
More information to follow soon.
To mark the Center’s 40th anniversary, we are launching Open Flat File, a lecture series inspired by the ethos of the Flat File website, The ten designers and artists listed below were invited into our archive of nearly 80,000 objects to select a single work to study closely and respond to. They will then translate their research into both a public lecture and a poster that reinterprets and contextualizes the object they chose.
Lectures are free and open to the public.
RSVP is required and will be made available closer to the event.
Spring 2027
Spring 2027
Spring 2027
Spring 2027
Presented by
With support from
and
Open Flat file
marks the tenth year of the publication and the Center’s 40th anniversary with a ten-part lecture series. Ten designers, artists, and researchers are invited to each select a single object from the collection and will respond to it through a free public talk at The Cooper Union.
London Design Festival celebrates and promotes our city as the design capital of the world. The 24th edition will take place from 12–20 September 2026. Take part and share your stories with global audiences.
Building on the legacy of the Shoreditch Design Triangle, SDW shines a spotlight on emerging talent, innovative thinking and contemporary products shaping hospitality, residential, retail and workplace interiors. As part of the London Design Festival programme, Shoreditch Design Week continues to elevate the area as one of the UK design industry’s most influential destinations. Discover what’s going on at Shoreditch Design Week, from inspiring exhibitions and showroom experiences to thought-provoking talks, installations and networking opportunities. Whether you’re an architect, designer, specifier or design enthusiast, there’s plenty to explore across the week.