Join renowned signage designers Chris Calori and David Vanden-Eynden as they describe their experiences designing the signage for the first four stations of the new Second Avenue subway line in New York City. Their talk includes an introduction to signage basics, a brief history of the subway and its signage, commentary on using New York City Transit graphic standards and working with engineers and architects, and various anecdotes about the project.

Signage design is an intricate, complex process that marries the graphic, architectural, and industrial design disciplines. Chris and David will show how typography with other elements are comprehensively combined to help people navigate the underground world of New York’s newest subway stations. Explore this multifaceted avenue of visual communication; there is far more to it than you would think!

Chris Calori and David Vanden-Eynden, former principals of CVE Design, literally wrote the book on signage design. Their book, Signage and Wayfinding Design: A Complete Guide to Creating Environmental Graphic Design Systems, is the go-to reference on communication in the built environment. They are Fellows of the SEGD (Society for Environmental Graphic Design), and built an award-winning, internationally recognized design office devoted to making people’s lives better with thoughtful, visually-compelling signage and wayfinding programs.

Together or singly, Chris and David have spoken at professional events, taught at notable universities, judged design competitions, and are current or former members of several design organizations. Their firm’s work has received numerous awards and has been extensively published worldwide. Both are graduates of The Ohio State University and are currently principals of Entro | CVE Design.

Photography: Charles Aydlett