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.
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...
Mahogany Boat Sign: Gold Leaf and a Marlin for reKUPPERation
This mahogany boat sign for reKUPPERation is now on display at Burgee Bar. The name is a clever play on words, so we wanted the design to have some fun with it. As a result, a blue marlin sweeps across the board and curls right into the lettering. A Mahogany Boat Sign...
Palladium Leaf Quarterboard: Katalyst on Display in Key Largo
Katalyst is a palladium leaf quarterboard we made in our Edgewater shop. Today it hangs on display at the Burgee Bar in Key Largo, Florida. The board is mahogany with notched corners, and its bold, flowing script matches the energy of the name. Script Lettering with...
Fishing Boat Quarterboard: Fish Whisperer in Gold Leaf
Fish Whisperer is a fishing boat quarterboard we carved in mahogany in our Edgewater shop. The board measures 48 inches long and 10 inches tall. It also has notched corners and classic serif lettering. As a result, the name has a little personality. Carved Mahogany...
Mahogany Quarterboard: Chelsea, Carved and Gilded in Gold Leaf
We made Chelsea, a traditional mahogany quarterboard, in our Edgewater shop and shipped it to the Burgee Bar. The board is 47 inches long and 13 inches tall. Notched corners and tall, narrow letters give the name a classic nautical look. We carved the letters into the...
Marine Clear Coat: Awlcraft 3000 on Quarterboards
Marine clear coat for quarterboards: we spray Awlcraft 3000 Clear over varnish and gold leaf. Designs & Signs, Edgewater, MD.
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!