Sign Criteria | Signage & Graphics

Kasey Riley of The Fat Plant Society shares how she turned moss into a design material that supports well-being, cuts noise, and boosts aesthetics. She explains the science behind forced-dormancy moss installations, why no watering is needed, and how installations absorb VOCs and reduce echo. Hear stories of client reactions, installation logistics and cost—about $115 per sq ft including frame—and how lightweight panels hang as art. Learn sustainable sourcing practices, design strategies like pin

Heidi Wolfe from Wolfe Makes Art joins us to talk about her shift from art educator to full-time sign painter and muralist. She breaks down how hand-painted signs bring personality and history to modern streetscapes, and why they still matter in a digital world. Heidi shares what it’s like working with clients who don’t yet understand the value of craftsmanship—and how she bridges that gap through education and advocacy. We talk about the role of signage in walkable downtowns, what makes a design

The latest cover of Signs of the Times—featuring a young man with blue hair and black nail polish—sparked a firestorm in a Facebook group of sign pros. But beneath the online outrage lies a deeper issue: Who’s really building the next generation of sign makers? In this solo episode of Sign Criteria | Branding for the Built Environment, John examines the labor crisis in the sign industry—from understaffed shops and aging workforces to broken recruiting practices and lopsided pay scales. Drawing from