About Us
Company Perspective and History
Designer Sign Systems – Integrated Visual Wayfinding and Signage Systems
OUR BEGINNINGS date back to when architectural signage was hand painted, largely one dimensional and disaggregated when Designer Sign Systems began over 25 years ago. Customers had a need for unified wayfinding systems that supported their branding throughout their interior and exterior signage and could be supported as their business changed. The Healthcare industry in particular had a need for high levels of customer service and was experiencing rapid expansion and consolidation. This was a void that that Designer Sign Systems filled by designing, manufacturing, and installing signage, chart holders, patient room flag systems for multi-site locations on a recurring basis.
OUR GROWTH OVER 25 PLUS YEARS! Today, Designer Sign Systems provides a full service offering that includes design, wayfinding planning, signage design, manufacturing of both interior and exterior signs and sign systems, project management, permitting, installation and post-installation maintenance and re-order fulfillment. We are proud to be a partner with many leading corporate, healthcare, architectural, educational, hospitality, government, and retail clients. We are continually growing our range of signage and related custom products thus allowing our customers to have one stop shopping including such services and products as:
- Wayfinding, Architectural Design and Construction Specification Consultative Services: Design of wayfinding system to support effective utilization and customer experience, Conceptual design of unified signage and related products to support branding and functional needs, Development of architectural design to support value engineered fabrication and meet Code requirements, Detail floor plan layout and specification design for Construction Specifications. We provide staff augmentation contract services to Architectural/Design firms to bring the specialized signage knowledge for effective development, design, and specification for complex projects and support balance staffing needs.
- Design Services: Create initial design/logo for branding and/or work with existing branding to develop concepts that reinforce the brand and carry throughout marketing and wayfinding. Bring creative design and use of renewable, sustainable, low impact and/or recycled materials into the design process.
- Environmental Graphics: Large format banners and building/vehicle wraps, branding and donor Walls, light diffusion systems for Art installations, floor graphics, glass privacy/marketing branding systems.
- Digital, Interactive, and Variable Messaging: Design, integration, hardware and software installation, and content management for one time or recurring digital signage applications at distributed locations such as building directories, monument signs, recognition displays, interactive wayfinding and event notification including integration with data feeds and building life safety systems.
- Exterior Signage Systems: Design, manufacturing, and installation of illuminated and non-illuminated signage including fluorescent, LED, channel letters and cabinet and pylon signs, stud mounted flat cut metal letters, redwood and high density urethane carved signs, parking lot and structure signage, property management signage regarding tenant access/usage, and building graphics and banners.
- Interior Signage Systems: Design, manufacturing, and installation of room identification, overhead, elevator and wall directional systems, restroom, stair systems, Area of Refuge, cubicle, emergency evacuation, and specialty use signage (e.g. pool and spa safety, radiation and oxygen usage, donor or history walls, HIPPA Patient Notifications, locker tags). Signage design and material selection is based on meeting relevant ADA, building, fire and life safety codes as well as functional requirements based on intended use and overall aesthetics for design and branding.
- Specialty Products: Design, manufacture, and installation of products such as patient care boards, photo-board displays, emergency evacuation plan centers, menu boards, art holders, magazine racks, in/out boxes, chart holders, bulletin /white boards, sidewalk signs, medical room flag systems, apothecary jar holders, kiosks, and bulletin holders. Several of these products can be purchased through our distributors.
- Project Management and Site Surveys: Provide project management services for large single site or national rollout campaigns. Assess site conditions for access, installation, and code requirements. Preparation of permit and installation applications.
- Customer Service and Reorder Fulfillment: Maintain electronic files of customer artwork and design specifications and binned component parts to support easy reorder fulfillment and reduced order lead times. Offer dedicated customer portals which allow customers with multiple locations and users to re-order their standard signage and maintain consistency in branding, quality, and pricing. Staffed customer service department available to answer questions, address special project requests, and provide samples.
No project is too small or too large and we work with our clients to tailor our service offering to meet their needs and budget requirements.
OUR CAPABILITIES include full design, manufacturing, distribution, installation and re-order fulfillment. Our primary facility is in Minneapolis Minnesota encompasses and is where all the action takes place. We distribute and install signage directly for customers throughout the U.S. and also offer lines of products which Designer Sign Systems manufacturers and distributes through National retailers. Our signage and office products are built-to-order in-house using our electronic design specifications which allows for quick and efficient re-order fulfillment, quality level Signs are built-to-order from this one location, which allows for cost efficiencies, operational consistencies, and up-close and-personal quality control; all of which translates into providing clients with value.
Awards, News, and Recognition
2011 Award Winning Projects
Arbor Lakes Senior Living
Finance & Commerce: DSS Provided Interior & Exterior Signage
Ellipse on Excelsior
Finance & Commerce: DSS Provided Interior & Exterior Signage
Hiawatha Maintenance Facility
Finance & Commerce: DSS Provided Exterior Signage
The Minnesota Building
Finance & Commerce: DSS Provided Interior & Exterior Signage
Oak Grove City Center
Finance & Commerce
2010 Award Winning Projects
Phoenix on the River
Finance & Commerce & Building of America: DSS Provided Interior & Exterior Signage
Zenith Condominiums
Finance & Commerce: DSS Provided Interior & Exterior Signage
Colopast US Headquarters
Best in Real Estate - St. Paul Business Journal: DSS Provided Exterior Signage
aLoft Hotel
Finance & Commerce: DSS Provided Interior Signage
Center for Changing Lives
Finance & Commerce: DSS Provided Interior & Exterior Signage
Van Cleve Apartments (East & West)
Best in Real Estate - St. Paul Business Journal: DSS Provided Interior & Exterior Signage