Wooden wall with three black plaques reading "A Time to Rise" and listing names and acknowledgments for Eastern University Templeton Hall campaign.

Plaque Program

Facility-Wide Donor Recognition.
Planned With Intention.

Start with a Discovery Call
Wall art with text and a blue butterfly design, reading 'From the Heart, Chelsea Milling Company, Grace and Kurt Greaves'.

A plaque program is most effective when it’s planned as part of a larger system

recognize donors, support navigation, and align with the building’s overall signage

A plaque program is a coordinated approach to donor recognition across an entire building or campus.It often includes room and space naming, donor acknowledgments in shared areas, and connections back to a donor wall or central recognition feature. When planned holistically, plaque programs create clarity, consistency, and a sense of purpose without overwhelming the environment.

Plaque Planning & Recognition Strategy

Thoughtful plaque programs begin with planning

By considering the full building and how it’s experienced, we help ensure donor recognition and building signage are coordinated creating clarity without over-signage. Plaque programs are most successful when they align with the building’s overall signage whether that system already exists or is being developed alongside the project.

We design donor plaques to integrate seamlessly with existing signage programs or to we can design a fully coordinated signage and wayfinding system, including:

  • Room and space identification

  • Wayfinding and directional signage

  • ADA requirements and accessibility standards

  • Architectural and interior design language

This approach ensures donor recognition feels intentional and cohesive clear, compliant, and easy to navigate supporting the overall building experience rather than competing with essential signage.

Historical display board with a sepia photo of a woman outside a house and a smaller black and white photo of the same woman sitting at a desk. The board has brown wooden frame accents and text about Julianne Czajka Schupbach and her life story.

What Our Clients Say

"The plaques are absolutely stunning, and I couldn't be happier with how everything came together. What impressed me the most was how thoughtfully our design team listened to our vision - then brought it to life with such creativity, craftsmanship, and care."

- Tonya Frisbey, Director of Development (Michigan State University Honors College & MSU debate)

A collage of 16 grayscale logos of various organizations and institutions, including universities, hospitals, historical sites, and museums.
A sign with a gold background and black text reading 'Landscape Benefactor Dr. Victor & Virginia Curatolo' is mounted on a metal stand in front of a brick wall.
A person standing beside multiple display boards outdoors on a sandy area, with grassy dunes and trees in the background, under a clear blue sky.
A circular decorative plaque mounted on a wall with text that reads 'The History Gallery Generously Funded by John and Marlene Boll, Sr.' The plaque has a layered, colorful design with purple, green, and dark shades.

Plaque Planning & Recognition Strategy

Thoughtful plaque programs begin with planning. By considering the full building and how it’s experienced, we help ensure donor recognition and building signage are coordinated creating clarity without over-signage.

  • For existing buildings, we often start by reviewing floor plans and walking the space, or reviewing your photos to understand the current signage and recognition environment.

    This includes auditing:

    • Existing donor plaques and donor walls

    • Named rooms and spaces

    • Wayfinding and room identification

    • ADA and accessibility considerations

    From there, we develop a clear plan that identifies gaps, redundancies, and opportunities to simplify and improve. Clients often receive documentation or reports that outline recommended changes, consolidation opportunities, and a path toward a more cohesive recognition system.

  • For new construction or major renovations, plaque programs are most effective when planned early.

    Working from architectural floor plans, we help identify naming opportunities, determine appropriate locations for donor recognition, and design a signage system that integrates donor plaques, room identification, wayfinding, and ADA requirements from the start.

    This approach helps prevent an overabundance of signage, reduces last-minute decisions, and ensures recognition feels built-in rather than added on.

  • Once the program is defined, we fabricate plaques using durable materials suited for public environments. Typography, finishes, and mounting methods are coordinated to ensure consistency across the facility.

    Installation can be handled by our team or coordinated with local installers, depending on your needs.

  • Treating donor plaques, room naming, and signage as a single program offers clear advantages:

    • A cohesive, intentional system throughout the facility

    • Fewer plaque styles and sign types to manage

    • Reduced visual clutter

    • Cost efficiencies through coordinated design and fabrication

    • Easier long-term updates and maintenance

    • One partner overseeing planning, design, and fabrication

    The result is a program that feels thoughtful, efficient, and easy to manage over time.

Modern glass building with a large sign in front that reads 'This prairie grass garden is generously supported by Realtors'.

Benefits of a Cohesive Plaque Program

Treating donor plaques, room naming, and signage as a single program offers clear advantages:

  • A cohesive, intentional system throughout the facility

  • Fewer plaque styles and sign types to manage

  • Reduced visual clutter

  • Cost efficiencies through coordinated design and fabrication

  • Easier long-term updates and maintenance

  • One partner overseeing planning, design, and fabrication

The result is a program that feels thoughtful, efficient, and easy to manage over time.

A Thoughtful First Step

Whether you’re evaluating an existing building or planning a new one, a successful plaque program begins with strategy.

If you’re looking to bring donor recognition, building signage, and wayfinding into alignment—or want help identifying opportunities within your space—we’d be glad to start with a conversation.

Start with a Discovery Call