The Future of the Public Realm

THUR-A11: Move You: The Art and Practice of Signage in Public Landscapes

Thursday, September 17, 2026

8:30 AM - 9:45 AM PT

1.25 PDH, LA CES/HSW

Speaker(s)

Erin Williams, LEED AP (she/her/hers)

EGD Practice Lead
Toole Design Group
Los Angeles, CA
William H. Dodge (he/him/his)

Co-Founder | Artist | Design Principal
A Gang of Three
Raleigh, North Carolina
Tim Popa, Assoc. ASLA

Communications Director
Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects
Charlottesville, VA

Environmental Graphic Design (EGD) is one of the most direct tools for engaging visitors in civic landscapes. From revealing site history to guiding movement and deepening connections to nature, integrated wayfinding and interpretive strategies unlock powerful opportunities for landscape architects.

Learning Outcomes:

Describe the role of environmental graphic design in activating public spaces, drawing from a wide range of regions and projects, from high-performance wayfinding to immersive interpretive environments.
Develop signage strategies for landscape typologies including parks, greenways, plazas, and historic sites while responding to a variety of budgets and scopes.
Facilitate conversations with clients depending on scale and timeframe, and determine when and how to engage consultants.
Explore how integration of place-based stories elevates the landscape experience through the collaboration of landscape architects, environmental graphic designers, and communities.