Branded Environments, Signage & Wayfinding Designer II

About the role

As a Branded Environments, Signage & Wayfinding Designer II at Perkins&Will, you will translate research, project goals, and early design strategy into intuitive signage, wayfinding, and environmental graphic systems.

Responsibilities

• Analyze user journeys, circulation, decision points, information needs, and environmental conditions to inform design recommendations.
• Develop design concepts that integrate brand, architecture, interiors, storytelling, and user experience.
• Create clear information hierarchies, programming documents, sign location plans, message schedules, and digital project records.
• Develop coordinated signage packages across concept design, schematic design, design development, and construction documentation.
• Prepare production-ready artwork, details, schedules, written specifications, and bid documents for fabrication and implementation.
• Apply accessibility requirements, applicable codes, progressive disclosure, and inclusive design principles to project work.
• Participate actively in design reviews, workshops, client presentations, and coordination discussions, offering informed ideas and responding constructively to feedback.
• Coordinate day-to-day design work with project teams, architects, interior designers, consultants, fabricators, and manufacturers.
• Review shop drawings and material samples for alignment with the design intent and project requirements, with appropriate project leadership oversight.
• Understand common signage materials, fabrication processes, installation methods, and basic structural and mechanical considerations.
• Manage assigned workstreams across multiple projects, communicate progress and needs clearly, and raise potential scope, schedule, documentation, or implementation issues early.
• Support junior team members through clear guidance, knowledge sharing, and constructive feedback.

Experience and Technical Skills

• 3–5 years of relevant professional experience in signage, wayfinding, environmental graphic design, experiential design, or a related field.
• Strong understanding of human-centered wayfinding, information hierarchy, progressive disclosure, accessibility, and inclusive design.
• Experience developing signage and wayfinding systems from strategy and concept through documentation and implementation.
• Ability to develop and interpret sign location plans, elevations, details, message schedules, specifications, production artwork, and shop drawings.
• Working knowledge of relevant accessibility standards and city or municipal sign codes.
• Understanding of signage materials, fabrication techniques, installation considerations, and coordination requirements.
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Cloud, including Illustrator, InDesign, and Photoshop.
• Familiarity with CadTools and 3D modeling tools is preferred.
• Experience with SignAgent or a similar signage programming and project organization platform is preferred.
• Strong visual communication, problem-solving, organization, and time-management skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively, manage multiple deadlines, and communicate effectively with clients and multidisciplinary teams.
• Willingness to travel as project needs require.

Licensure, Certifications, and Education

• Degree in graphic design, environmental design, experiential design, product design, or a related field is required.
• LEED Green Associate accreditation is required within six months of hire.
• Professional accreditation in an area of Living Design (such as LEED AP with Specialty, BREEAM AP, WELL AP, SITES AP, CPHC/CPHE, or RELi AP) is valued.