About
Studio Semaphore are a team of experienced wayfinding specialists providing strategy-led creative outcomes to improve navigation, understanding and overall user experience of complex sites. With exceptional experience gained across a wide range of sectors, our team is well-placed to deliver highly successful responses to a variety of wayfinding and signage briefs. Our refined delivery methodology, hands-on collaborative approach, and close user engagement mean we have established our position as recognised experts at the forefront of wayfinding design and interpretive solutions.
Approach
We believe that successful design outcomes can only be underpinned with research. Before commencing any design we work closely with our clients to understand their needs and expectations; revealing all project challenges and opportunities. In direct response to the project’s context and parameters, we generate ideas and themes to inform each element of the design.
In collaboration with our clients, we evaluate these concepts until the ideal direction is reached. We then carefully refine our design response, mindful of all interfaces within the broader project. This enables us to meet both the studio’s and the client’s quality expectations with a solution we can smoothly implement.
During project implementation, Semaphore drives the design output to suit project programmes and ensure the final product fulfils its requirements and accomplishes what it sets out to achieve.
Reconciliation
For thousands of years, First Peoples have navigated Country with songlines and dreaming tracks, oral maps passed down through generations. In the spirit of reconciliation, we acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the lands on which we live and work. We honour their continuing connection to Country and culture and pay our respect to their ancestors and elders.
Social Impact
Semaphore is committed to reducing environmental impact and supporting sustainable practice. In line with our core values, we donate to the following organisations:
- Greening Australia
People
Jess Caffin
Founder and Strategic Director
Jess is an experienced wayfinding strategist and the co-founder and director of Studio Semaphore. Jess has led complex projects for clients both locally and internationally. She is adept at developing user-centric navigation strategies and excels in managing high-value projects with multiple stakeholders.
David Williamson
Founder and Design Director
David is the creative director of Studio Semaphore. His design practice integrates strategy with creative innovation and draws on his experience delivering many successful landmark wayfinding projects. Throughout his career in wayfinding, David has worked across an array of genres, including healthcare, workplace, education and cultural projects, developing his expertise in wayfinding and experiential graphic design. His natural design competence has led to mentoring fellow designers and teaching at RMIT, Monash and Swinburne Universities. David has long enjoyed working at the intersection of typography, pattern and the physical realm.
Simon Wilson
Associate Design Manager
Simon is Semaphore’s associate design manager, and leads our Brisbane office. He has worked across furniture, interior and wayfinding design disciplines and has a long-standing passion for design, craft and user experience in the built environment. His extensive design and technical skillset, wealth of experience and attention to detail combine to ensure our commitment to quality work is fully realised.
Chad Ward
Associate – Wayfinding Lead
Chad is Semaphore's associate wayfinding strategist. His focus is on simplifying complex problems while balancing client needs with user expectations. People are central to Chad’s approach, and his work is grounded in representation and inclusion in the design process to ensure outcomes are equitable, accessible and inclusive. Working collaboratively with project teams and stakeholders, Chad contributes to the review and refinement of complex wayfinding environments, identifying practical opportunities to improve clarity, usability and overall user experience.
Recognition
Awards
Empty Field
Merit – Wayfinding & Signage, AGDA Awards
Silver – Graphics; Environmental Graphics, BEST Design Awards
Empty Field
Finalist – Wayfinding & Signage, AGDA Awards
Finalist – Graphics; Environmental Graphics, BEST Design Awards
2023
Warrnambool Learning and Library Centre
Finalist – Wayfinding, AGDA Awards
Finalist – Graphics; Environmental Graphics, BEST Design Awards
Empty Field
Finalist – Wayfinding, AGDA Awards
2022
Melbourne Connect Innovation Precinct & Superfloor
Finalist – Graphics; Environmental Graphics, BEST Design Awards
Empty Field
Finalist – Graphics; Environmental Graphics, BEST Design Awards
Finalist – Wayfinding, AGDA Awards
Empty Field
Finalist – Graphics; Environmental Graphics, BEST Design Awards
Empty Field
Finalist – Graphics; Environmental Graphics, BEST Design Awards
Empty Field
Merit – Wayfinding, AGDA Awards
Empty Field
Merit – Wayfinding, AGDA Awards
2020
Merit – Wayfinding, AGDA Awards
Silver – Wayfinding, Melbourne Design Awards
Press
2023
Asia Pacific Design No.19
Warrnambool Learning & Library Hub
Inveresk Library, University of Tasmania, Inveresk Campus
Eden Oak
2022
Asia Pacific Design No.18
Careers
While we don’t have any positions available at the moment, we always love to hear from exceptional people. To express your interest, please send through your portfolio and CV (no more than 10mb total) and we will get back to you if a suitable role comes up.