Melbourne Architectural Signage Studio (MASS) is the expert signage design business of Univers.
Our Story
Univers, a graphic design studio founded in 2001, established MASS to provide comprehensive signage and wayfinding solutions. Leveraging our formidable design expertise and extensive fabrication and installation networks, we deliver bespoke signage that seamlessly integrates with brands and architecture. Meanwhile, Univers has evolved to specialise in digital products and forward-thinking brand identities.
Clients across a range of different industries choose MASS to design and provide finished, installed signs because of our exceptional understanding of brand and architectural issues, legible wayfinding, and practical durability. We work with architects, universities, schools, project managers and organisational leaders seeking high quality, bespoke signage solutions in Melbourne and throughout Australia.
MASS is your best option if you’re looking to work with expert sign designers who:
01
Are focused on excellent signage design, not overly long design processes
02
Have practical experience with all kinds of signs and buildings
03
Understand how the flow and rhythm of architectural spaces can influence human behaviour
04
Will go to great lengths to meet your deadlines
05
Appreciate and can work with existing brand concepts and guidelines
06
Can provide clear, reasonable costing for every project stage
07
Communicate with your architect, building surveyor, DDA consultants, and other stakeholders
08
Are advocates for the best possible design outcomes
We believe that signage should support architecture to enrich people’s spatial experiences.
To make this possible we developed a different approach to signage projects.
MASS
NOT
Conceptual Design
Expert sign designers lead projects from conception to post-installation.
Underdone by sign makers, or initiated by a generalist graphic designer.
Wayfinding
Simple, straightforward strategy to help people understand spaces, which respects the role of architects and the intelligence of users.
A wayfinding consultant telling you the architecture is all wrong, and can only be fixed with a scientific review and a raft of new sign drawings.
Fabrication
Great relationships with an outstanding group of specialists, selected for their suitability to each project. On-going review of progress and produced items.
Limited by capacity, or lack of good management; keeping non-expert skills in-house; trying to appear that all work is in-house.
Tender
Complete signage project services including design, documentation, fabrication and installation – there is no need to tender design and production separately for small projects.
Adding a layer of cost and management by tendering design and production separately, for relatively small contract sums, in a field which you may lack knowledge of.
Value
Careful, enduring and highly considered design, craftsmanship and attentiveness at an appropriate price.
Low value outcomes due to selection based on the biggest design promise or lowest production price.
Scale
Ideal for one-off medium to large projects, and small-scale repeat works.
Trying to do everything for everyone.
Quality
We are responsible for signage throughout the project, and will do everything we can to ensure signage is made and installed to an excellent standard.
The designer claims the fabricator was wrong, the fabricator says it was the sub-contractor, the sub-contractor says it was the installer, the installer says it was the designer.
What We Do
All our planning, design, and project management work is completed from our Melbourne studio.
We offer full-service design to installed completion of all kinds of signage. We have great, long term relationships with a range of sign printers, fabricators, installers and other trades who we partner with to deliver finished signs of the highest standard. For larger projects with dedicated project managers we can also work with you to provide architectural wayfinding signage strategy, design and documentation in a consultancy only capacity.
Contact us to discuss how we could work together.
Exterior Signage
Sky signs, highway pylons, building entry signage, street numbers, awning signs, light boxes, interpretive signs, plaques, foundation stones
Interior Signage
Building directories, level directories, tenancy boards, interchangeable signs, reception signage, office signage, artwork plates, dedication + donor boards, commemorative signage, directional signage
Base building signage
Regulatory signs, fire signs, statutory signage, toilet signs, braille and tactile signs, glass safety decal
Wayfinding
Wayfinding strategy, visitor & user experience, signage planning, directional signs, signage hierarchy
Environmental Graphics
Graphic walls, wallpapers, murals, builders hoarding graphics, a-frames, banners and flags, feather signs, digital signage, printed and plain glass privacy film
Project Strategy
Use assessments, signage audits, bespoke sign system design, signage guidelines, sign system documentation