Handmade Signs & Gold Leaf
We also hand-gild house numbers and transom windows on historic homes in Annapolis, Baltimore and Washington, DC.
What We Do
We make handmade signs that last for generations: carved quarterboards, gold leaf boat names, custom life rings, dimensional signs and letters, and gold leaf house numbers.
Every sign is designed, built and finished in our Edgewater, Maryland shop, then installed or shipped wherever it needs to go.
Design
We draw up a custom design and refine it with you until it’s right.
Manufacture
We carve, paint and gild every sign by hand in our shop..
Install
We install locally or ship your finished sign, ready to hang.
Our History
Designs & Signs was founded in 1976 by Brendon J. Brandon, whose sign making career has taken him across Australia, New Zealand, Great Britain and the United States. He is a past President of the International Society of Gilders and spent six years as head editor of its magazine, “The Gilder’s Tip.” He has taught gilding and sign making for the Smithsonian Institution, the Fashion Institute of Technology and other organizations. Today, his son Travis Brandon, also a master gilder, runs the shop in Edgewater, Maryland, carrying on the same traditional craft.
From The Portfolio
Follow us while we work.
Custom Boat Name Graphic: Wine Down with Black Wine Glasses
This custom boat name graphic belongs to Wine Down, a Meridian from Edgewater, MD. We lettered the name in engine turned silver leaf film with a black Avery outline. In addition, we drew a pair of black wine glasses right into the name, an original touch that makes it...
Boat Name Life Ring: Knot Done in Grey and Black Avery Vinyl
We made this boat name life ring for Knot Done. First, we lettered the name in grey and black Avery vinyl. In addition, a rope knot forms the K, a playful nod to the name. Like every life ring we make, we built it to order at our shop in Edgewater, Maryland. From a...
Burnished Gold Boat Name: Bonnie Sue in Gold Leaf Script
This burnished gold leaf boat name belongs to Bonnie Sue, a yacht we lettered at Burr Yacht Sales in Edgewater, Maryland. We lettered her name in a flowing script over a crisp black Avery outline. Below the name, her hailing port, Stuart, FL, sits in classic capitals....
Gold Leaf Quarterboards: Bonnie Sue in Carved Teak Script
We made these gold leaf quarterboards for Bonnie Sue. We carved her name into a matching pair of teak boards in a flowing script. Then we gilded each letter by hand in 23 karat gold leaf and finished it with a crisp black outline. Like every pair we make, we built...
Fleming 55 Boat Name: True North in Burnished Silver Leaf
This Fleming 55 boat name belongs to True North, a yacht we lettered at Burr Yacht Sales in Edgewater, Maryland. We set her name in bold block capitals of burnished silver leaf film. Each letter sits on a crisp black Avery vinyl outline. Below the name, her hailing...
Cedar Farm Sign: Sandblasted with a Painted Dog Portrait
Cedar Farm Sign for Diesel's Farm This cedar farm sign marks the entrance to Diesel's Farm in Davidsonville, Maryland. The owner had one special request: he wanted his dog's face painted right on the sign. It was the biggest dog we've ever seen. In fact, judging by...
Marine Business Sign: Routed HDU with Gold Leaf Star Logo
Marine Business Sign for Stella Marine Services Stella Marine Services needed signs for three locations, so we made three matching marine business signs. Each one measures 4 x 8 feet, and we routed them from 1-inch-thick HDU (high-density urethane). The company has...
Community Pool Sign: Routed HDU with Gold Leaf Sailboat
Hillsmere Shores Community Pool Sign in Routed HDU This community pool sign welcomes members and guests to the Hillsmere Shores Community Pool, home of the Hammerheads. We routed it from HDU (high-density urethane) and then gave it a classic look with a gilded...
Teak Nameboards: Carved Gold Leaf Letters, Hand Finished
Teak Nameboards with Carved Gold Leaf Letters These teak nameboards show the traditional quarterboard at its best. The deeply carved letters carry 23 karat gold leaf. A hand-painted black outline makes every letter stand out against the warm grain of the wood. Teak...
Repainted Boat Name: Finest Hour Refreshed by Hand in Script
This repainted boat name belongs to Finest Hour, a fiberglass cruiser whose hailing port is Honey Brook, Pennsylvania. In November 2022, Brendon J. Brandon and Travis Brandon brought the name back by hand. The original lettering had faded over the years, so rather...
Burnished Silver Leaf Boat Name: Hummingbird on a Fleming
Hummingbird is another Fleming yacht with a boat name in burnished silver leaf. We lettered her name in a large, flowing script, and we set her hailing port, Pensacola, Florida, in capitals below. Like our silver leaf boat name for Pearl, this name pairs silver leaf...
Silver Leaf Boat Name: Pearl, a Fleming at Burr Yacht Sales
This silver leaf boat name belongs to Pearl, a Fleming yacht we lettered at Burr Yacht Sales in Edgewater, Maryland. We lettered the name in burnished silver leaf film in a beautiful brush script, and we set her hailing port, Venice, Florida, in classic capitals...
Let's Get Started!
We've been making signs by hand since 1976, from gold leaf boat names and carved quarterboards to dimensional letters and glass gilding.
The quickest way to begin is to send us a message with your project details, and we'll get back to you with ideas and pricing.
We look forward to working with you!