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
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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
In March 2024, a collaborative team of researchers from the University of Cambridge and Birmingham City University launched an AHRC-funded project entitled ‘Small Performances; investigating the typographic punches of John Baskerville through heritage science and practice based research’. Two years later, the team is back in Birmingham, taking an interlude from their work to present their research and findings so far. They would love you to come and see, hear, experience and celebrate their research, and to join them for afternoon tea and cakes.
Blending academic insight with lived experience, A Place in the City captures the power of grassroots movements to imagine alternative urban futures. Through personal stories of struggle and resilience, the film invites audiences to reflect on how urban life can be collectively redefined from below, foregrounding the everyday acts of organising, designing, and care that sustain social transformation.
‘Give Way to Design’ is a documentary that traces the history of road signage in the United Kingdom, from Roman milestones to the present day. It explores how functional signs evolved into a defining element of the British visual landscape, becoming part of the nation’s cultural heritage. The film highlights the enduring legacy of designers Jock Kinneir and Margaret Calvert, whose work reshaped modern signage.
The programme brings together bold topics that matter, makes complex urban challenges tangible, and creates space for open, courageous discussion. Each session is designed to spark debate, challenge assumptions, and move better cities forward. The first day is reserved for Field Trips across the city and the next two days will be packed with sessions and workshops. We have poured all our heart and passion into shaping this programme, and we are excited to finally share it with you.
The changes we make to our streets today will be with us for decades. The Summit will focus on how we plan today for streets that are fit for the future. We will discuss how to ensure that people walking benefit from emerging technologies which are forging new ways for people to move around towns and cities. We’ll be considering how we put pedestrians first and create smarter streets for all. Showcasing work in the region which is putting walkers at the heart of change, we’ll also hear from trailblazers who are looking to make walking safer and easier as our streets change and evolve.