San Francisco is leading a powerful movement in urban transformation—reimagining public spaces not just to look better, but to work better for everyone who uses them. As Gensler recently shared, this includes revitalizing corridors like Market Street and breathing new life into districts like Mission Bay, where mixed-use spaces, community hubs, and vibrant cultural programming are becoming the new norm.

Read Gensler’s perspective →

While architecture, transit, and planning set the structural foundation, it’s the integration of exterior and interior signage and graphics that brings these environments to life. Signage doesn’t just exist within these spaces — it helps define them.

Exterior & Interior Signage: Quiet Powerhouses of City Design

From wayfinding to brand storytelling, signage systems serve as both practical tools and creative expressions. In the context of large-scale city transformation, their role becomes even more integral.

Exterior signage contributes by:

• Establishing clear identity for public buildings, districts, and developments
• Reinforcing safety and navigation with ADA-compliant wayfinding
• Enhancing public art and placemaking through branded monument signs or interactive displays

Interior graphics and signage support by:

• Orienting visitors in multi-use or multi-level buildings (like civic centers, health campuses, or transit hubs)
• Delivering brand consistency across city-owned or publicly accessible facilities
• Creating memorable, culturally resonant moments that help residents feel grounded in their space

Together, these elements create a visual language that connects buildings, streetscapes, and people.

Design That Reflects the Community

Cities like San Francisco thrive when their spaces reflect the people who live and work in them. Signage plays a quiet but powerful role here—visually reinforcing community values, identities, and access points. When done well, it enhances civic pride and helps foster a deeper sense of belonging.

BLR’s Perspective

At BLR, we’ve worked on hundreds of signage systems across the Bay Area — from golf courses and government buildings to innovation centers and downtown corridors. One thing we’ve seen across the board: the most successful projects are the ones where signage is not an afterthought, but an essential part of the design process from the beginning.

If your team is taking part in a revitalization effort, opening a new facility, or looking to better connect your building to the city around it, we’d love to talk.

With over 50 years of experience, BLR helps Bay Area organizations turn signage into an integral part of the spaces they build.

Schedule a signage consultation
Or contact us at (669) 231-4600