Frances Smith
Design for the built environment
Available for contracts or ad-hoc work on a freelance basis
Based in the Forest of Dean
Signage & wayfinding design
Over 20 years of experience design expertise, specialising in signage, wayfinding, environmental graphics and placemaking, maximising the potential of your new or existing brand.
Design and development
I specialise in design development, taking your sketch or concept and developing it to the point where it’s ready for production, including all aspects of artworking for print and manufacture.
Recommendations and advice
With a broad knowledge of materials, feasibility and manufacturing processes, I am here here to talk through your ideas and make recommendations and suggest materials and suppliers who can fulfil your requirements.
I’m Frances Smith (née Redding), I fell into the signage industry around 20 years ago straight after university, and have stayed ever since, working in a variety of settings.
I love the variety and complexity of wayfinding design work, and the challenge of communicating to clients, users and manufacturers alike.
Pragmatic in my approach, I enjoy bridging the gap between concept and product, and having managed design teams for the past 13 years, I can ascertain scope, and prioritise on large and small projects alike. I’m a stickler for accuracy, and just love making things better.
In my spare time, I enjoy mountain biking, nature photography and playing in a jazz band.
Drop me a line to discuss your project requirements or request a CV or portfolio examples
Services
Site wayfinding
Site wayfinding strategy, concept and technical design. Working on or off-plan.
Technical artworking
Technical artworking for manufacture and print, or creatively working to guidelines
Message schedules
Clear and coherent messaging & location plans and strategy
Graphic design
Modern, clean designs for signage, environmental graphics or brand
Recommendations
Recommendations for existing design schemes for clarity or value engineering
Site visits
Site visits, audits and surveys. QC and client or manufacturer visits
I’ve worked extensively with two of the world’s largest tech/retail companies as well as:
Arcadia • Barclays • Bizspace • British Council • Burger King • Canopy Hotels • CBRE • Cloudflare • Dubai Tram • EBRD (European Bank of Reconstruction & Development) • EY • Facebook (Meta) • FIFA • Goldman Sachs • Green Park • Harrods • intu • Iqvia • John Lewis • Knight Frank • Lloyds of London • Luxury Residential Developments • Medical Research Council • Mediclinic • Moto • NHS • Nike • OVO Wembley Arena • Penguin Random House • Premier Inn • Pure Data Centres • RBS • Sainsbury’s • Snap inc. • Southbank Centre • SSP • Tesco • Teva • The Barbican • Travelodge • University Developments • Village Hotels • Whitbread • Wimbledon College of Art