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
Sensory mapping is an emerging practice that helps people, especially neurodivergent individuals and those with sensory sensitivities, anticipate the sensory qualities of buildings and public spaces. Buro Happold’s research, aligned with PAS 6463 principles of clarity, choice and calm, explored how sensory maps can better reflect lived experience through co-creation, workshops, literature review and a global survey. The study highlights how sensory information is communicated, the challenges of representing sensory experiences, and the potential for sensory maps to support more inclusive wayfinding and confident navigation of the built environment.
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
Our exceptional line-up of speakers will guide us through the rhythm and resonance of design, typography, interior design, illustration, videography and more – uncovering the stories, influences, and ideas behind their work.
Healthy City Design 2026 returns to the Lowry in Salford, Greater Manchester on 20–22 October 2026 under the theme “Breakdown or breakthrough?” The Congress will explore bold strategies that place health at the centre of urban transformation – bringing an interdisciplinary focus across research, investment, development, design, planning and public health. Cities across the world […]
the 7th annual Design + Accessibility Summit, the essential how-to event for creating accessible content. Across four days of practical, expert-led sessions, you’ll learn proven workflows for creating accessible content with InDesign, Acrobat, Illustrator, PowerPoint, Word, Canva, and more.
Designing accessible technologies and services plays a vital role in facilitating social and civic inclusion for people with diverse abilities; yet inclusion is equally vital to creating them. The methods through which research and design are conducted should themselves be inclusive, so that people with diverse abilities can participate as co-designers and co-owners of the work. Nevertheless, researchers working across ability-diverse populations often find themselves without a clear starting point. Existing guidelines are scarce and often difficult to adapt to specific contexts and communities. Translating resources into practice requires tailored vocabularies and procedures that are rarely documented or shared.
How do people actually navigate a space? How can designers make that journey clearer, more intuitive, and more accessible? Start your SEGD Conference experience in Kansas City with Wayfinding, Planning, and Design, a four-hour, hands-on Bootcamp.