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!
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The purpose of the Workshop is to look at model organisms as diverse as possible with the aim of unveiling a more comprehensive meaning of the concept of «cognition». Our motivation for this workshop stems from the need to examine cognitive evidence devoid of anthropocentric biases. We aim to focus on compelling evidence of intelligent behaviour in various organisms, ranging from insects to single-cell organisms, and extending to the potential for plant intelligence and cognition. Convincing evidence of intelligent behaviour is attested in a variety of organisms, from the pin-brained organisms provided by invertebrates such as insects to single celled organisms such as ciliate or protists up to the possibility of plant intelligence and cognition. Another focal point of the workshop is the role of synaptic plasticity in learning and memory, which is currently a prominent topic in neuroscience. We will revisit past studies on Pavlovian conditioning in organisms like Paramecium aurelia and planarians, reevaluating the association between nuclear mechanisms and long-term memory storage, which has implications for cognition in single-cell organisms. Studies of minimal cognition in brain and brainless organisms should be complemented by the study of the plasticity of dynamic morphogenesis of biological forms as revealed by regenerative biology and controlled chimerism. The development of synthetic living machines with behavioural capacity, offers new avenues for understanding the origins of cognition in all of possible forms of material implementations.
This talk by Paul Shaw will closely examine the texts that typefounders used to display and promote their typefaces. Those texts have varied greatly, both over time and from typefounder to typefounder. Eighteenth-century typefounders, following the examples of William Caslon, relied on Cicero’s First Speech against Catiline to show off their text types. Even when Fat Faces, Egyptians, and Grotesques emerged as display types in the early 1800s, they continued to use “Quousque tandem abutere”. But as the nineteenth century wore on, typefounders began to include quotations from literary and historical works, proverbs and maxims, patriotic references, verbal hijinks and humorous wordplay, and just plain random combinations of words. Investigating these texts can help to accurately date specimens and typefaces, identify connections among foundries, reveal the political sympathies of typefounders, and shed light on the social and economic circumstances of the times. There are other texts in type specimens beyond the texts that showcase the typefaces: introductions, price lists, advertisements for ink makers and others, and the typographic apparatus of headers, titles, captions, and credits.
The central event of the 2024 Typographics festival is a conference with speakers from around the world, focused on the contemporary use of type. The main Typographics conference will feature an international line-up of designers, with presentations about type and its use in graphic design, web design, publication design, book design, packaging, branding, corporate identities, advertising, motion graphics, and more.
The Space Syntax Symposium aims to bring together scholars, practitioners and students who are currently working on Space Syntax and related approaches all over the world to share knowledge, to discuss theoretical and methodological advances as well as practical applications, and to explore directions for further collaborations with other disciplines.
Our world and places are characterised by a diversity of individuals and groups representing the global majority, different cultures, gender identities, abilities and LGBTQIA+ people. However not everyone feels they have the same right to shape the city, from policy to practice to placemaking. What are the mechanisms that we can create or advocate to ensure our spaces and places reflect the diversity of those around us? Taking inspiration from Henri Lefvbre’s The Right to The City, this chat will explore what makes places special to different people and how the city can be shaped for the diversity of those around us.
The SEGD Academic Summit is a forum for trends in design education research, projects and curriculum innovation for design academics, students and researchers. This event is great for industry members as well, to reconnect and learn about new ideas evolving from current research. This event is entirely free and promotes the latest developments in design research and education.
In order to bring about change, it is essential to examine phenomena from various angles, with different disciplinary perspectives (transdisciplinary), theoretical and methodological approaches, in order to come up with solutions to socially and environmentally important issues and ultimately work towards the well-being of people and society as a whole. Considering these challenges, the congress will focus on seeking strategies to promote sustainable environments that favour greater inclusion, social participation, and transdisciplinarity in addressing the needs of housing, mobility, and sustainability.
More information to follow soon.
The Design Across Borders: United in Creativity conference aims to be a celebration of the transformative power inherent in design—a force that transcends geographic and cultural boundaries. In an era characterized by unprecedented connectivity, the theme of the conference embodies the spirit of unity, collaboration, and creativity. By fostering collaboration and embracing diversity, the conference seeks to illuminate the ways in which design serves as a powerful catalyst for positive change, propelling us towards a future where creativity becomes a universal language that knows no borders.
Design Across Borders: United in Creativity is an invitation to dive into the depths of design thinking, to embrace its capacity to bring people together, and to witness the profound impact it can have on shaping a more harmonious and interconnected world. As we embark on this collective journey, we recognize that creativity knows no bounds, and through design, we can forge connections that transcend the limitations of space and time. Together, we celebrate the immense potential of design as a force that unites us in a shared pursuit of innovation, expression, and positive transformation.
Some of the questions that we are looking for answers are: In what ways does design transcend geographic and cultural boundaries to generate a positive impact?, How can design be used as a catalyst for positive social change in a globalized world?, Can design become a universal language that overcomes language barriers? If so, how can this be achieved?, How can inclusion and cultural diversity be ensured in international design projects?, What challenges exist for communicating design to audiences from different cultures?, How can design be used to promote empathy and intercultural understanding?, What role will design play in building a more harmonious and interconnected world?
Healthy City Design 2024 (HCD 2024) International Congress & Exhibition is a global forum for the exchange of knowledge on the research, policy and practice of designing healthy and sustainable cities and communities. This year’s key themes are: Impact investment and good governance; community impact; homes and neighbourhoods; and urban design, placemaking and the public realm.