The Art of Authenticity: Celebrating Artisanal Signs From signwriting to gold-leaf gilding, hand-crafted signage turns London's corporate and cultural spaces into compelling brand stories.
In a city saturated with optics, true distinction comes from depth - not volume. While mass-produced signage can fill a gap, it rarely captures the heart of a brand or the character of a place. At Glyphics, we believe authenticity is crafted, not manufactured. Every brushstroke, gilded curve and hand-drawn letter carries intention - creating signs that don’t just label a business, but express its personality in a busy visual landscape.
Digital printing has made signage fast and functional but hand-crafted signs have undeniable soul, establishing a presence that just can’t be cloned.
Texture tells a story. Each wash of the brush, line detail, material and surface shows human skill and attention.
Stand out character. Amidst London’s sea of vinyl and plastic, hand-painted signage can be unforgettable.
Enduring design, embodied values. Time-honoured techniques ensure signs last, physically and symbolically.
Whether it’s the warmth of a hand-painted façade in Shoreditch or the shimmer of gold leaf on a Mayfair window, artistry communicates quality, confidence and individuality before a single word is read.
Authentic signage starts with understanding – your brand, your building, your narrative. From there, the process becomes a dialogue between creativity and craft.
Traditional signwriting: Handmade lettering adds depth to wayfinding and branding with movement and emotion.
Gold leaf gilding: Precision meets elegance – a luminous finish that commands attention.
Hand-painted murals & feature walls: Transform plain surfaces into storytelling canvases that define your space.
Custom fabrication: From carved wood to mixed-media 3D builds, every piece is made to measure and made to last.
At Glyphics, each sign is designed to harmonise with its environment – respecting London’s historic streetscapes while embracing modern architecture.
True craftsmanship speaks loudest through the work itself. Across London, our work lives on walls, doors and glass – shaping how brands are seen and felt every day. Each project tells its own tale, informed by place, purpose and people. Take a look below.
Every Glyphics project begins with intuition – how can a sign speak to the senses, how will it inhabit its space? Simply put, what does our work feel like? Whether painted by hand or finished in gold, each of our pieces is guided by character, craft and connection. Here are a few of our favourite collaborations that bring this ethos to life.
ZSL LONDON ZOO | CRAFTING ENVIRONMENTS WITH CHARACTER
Our partnership with ZSL has seen us create immersive murals, sculptural entry signs and tactile wayfinding to spark curiosity and engage visitors. From colourful plaques for the Land of the Lions to floor graphics for the Animal Adventure zone, our signs tell a hand-crafted story – connecting people, nature and place through thoughtful design.
NOPI | CRAFT FOR A CULT RESTAURANT
For Ottolenghi’s NOPI, gold leaf detailing turns restraint into radiance. Each curve and reflection is hand-finished, bringing warmth and light to a minimalist setting - a quiet nod to the layered artistry of the food itself.
WORKSPACE | A SHARED IDENTITY ACROSS LONDON
From Mare Street Studios to The Biscuit Factory and Pall Mall Deposit, our work with Workspace builds cohesion without conformity. Each site reflects the spirit of its neighbourhood, combining clean typography, heritage references and hand-crafted detail to celebrate creativity across the city’s workspaces.
OZONE COFFEE ROASTERS | HONEST SIGNS, URBAN WARMTH
Our collaboration with Ozone blends industrial edge and artisanal heart. Lettering by hand, bold type and textured finishes bridge heritage and modernity – brewing up a brand built on authenticity, sustainability and the craft of good coffee.
MILL YARD | INDEPENDENT RETAILERS, UNITED DESIGN
Our hand-painted signage system brought Mill Yard's boutiques together under one aesthetic. Monochrome lettering complements rustic architecture, preserving its charm while creating a cohesive identity for a community of makers.
HERALDIC CREST | FROM PARCHMENT TO SCULPTURE
Commissioned to reinterpret a historic coat of arms as a contemporary centrepiece, we translated a flat printed design into a 2 m-wide, 1.5 m-proud 3D crest, taking it from paper to an architectural reality. Working with sculptor Tom Young and castmaker Jak Blackman, we modelled each element in clay, took silicone moulds and produced durable fibreglass casts, before piecing it all together. Hand-finished in opaque gouache with 24-carat gold leaf, the end result marries heritage craft with modern fabrication to create a bold, beautiful emblem.
From creative studios to conservation spaces, every project shares one common thread – the belief that artistic design can tell powerful, lasting stories. These are more than signs; they’re expressions of identity, made by hand, made for London.
As businesses embrace digital transformation, something human is often lost along the way. Hand-crafted signage restores that connection – offering tactility, warmth and emotion in spaces dominated by glass and screens.
A gilded crest in a reception lobby, a hand-painted mural in a co-working space or brushstroke typography in a retail front – these touches transform environments into experiences, serving as a reminder of the people and the stories behind the brand.
Tell Your Story Authentically: Bespoke design allows signage to become part of your brand narrative. Traditional techniques can echo heritage, while innovative uses of hand-finished materials express creativity and confidence. It’s about creating an identity that visually articulates what makes you, you – as seen at Eastlea School, where bold, hand-painted lettering turns everyday architecture into a celebration of community values and belonging.
Create Memorable Touchpoints: Hand-crafted signs invite a closer look - their texture, depth and evidence of human skill create a connection that lasts longer than any digital impression, making your physical presence truly memorable.
Translating a brand's essence into a physical sign requires both design vision and deep technical knowledge – understanding how materials behave, how light interacts and how techniques endure the London elements.
Since 1985, from our Shoreditch workshop, we've collaborated with London businesses, architects and designers, blending traditional skills with contemporary needs. Whether it's the precision of hand-painted lettering, the lustre of gold leaf or the expert fabrication of unique structures, our focus is on creating signage that is not only beautiful but built to last and perfectly suited to its environment.
Respect London’s Diverse Character: From historic streetscapes to cutting-edge architecture, the city demands sensitivity. Bespoke design and traditional techniques allow signage to integrate harmoniously – complementing listed buildings or adding a sophisticated counterpoint to modern structures. At Mews of Mayfair, hand-painted lettering and projecting signs enhance a tucked-away historic street, blending craftsmanship and subtle branding to reflect the area’s high-end, hidden charm.
This dedication transforms a sign from a simple marker into a meaningful piece of brand communication.
Choosing heritage signage isn’t about nostalgia; it’s about values. It signals quality, care and confidence – traits that resonate deeply in a city that prizes individuality and aesthetic integrity.
When you commission a hand-crafted sign, you’re not just reviving tradition - you’re making your mark in the now. Get in touch with Glyphics to bring the human touch to your brand and create something unmistakably you.
