Our Story
Guiding Brands. Illuminating Identities.
This is the story of how a small workshop in East London became one of the most trusted names in signage.
Chapter One
It Started With a Unit
and an Obsession
In 2015, Yusuf Rab took on Unit 1B on an industrial estate in Barking, East London. He had a Tekcel CNC router, a clear vision, and a conviction that most business signage was, frankly, not good enough.
The idea behind Sign Architects was straightforward: every business deserves signage that truly represents who they are. Not a rush job. Not a template. Something designed, engineered, and installed with the same care you'd want for your own shopfront.
From the very beginning, Yusuf understood that great signage isn't built by one person — it's built by a great team. He assembled a crew of graphic designers, CNC engineers, sign makers, surveyors, installers, and a dedicated sales team who shared his obsession with getting things right. His role was never to do everything himself — it was to lead, set the standard, and make sure everyone around him had what they needed to produce their best work.
“Your sign is the first thing a customer sees.
— The principle Sign Architects was founded on
It should be the best thing they see.”
Chapter Two
The People Behind
the Signs
Demand grew fast — faster than anyone expected. The work was speaking for itself. But scaling a company without losing its standards requires more than good craftsmen. It requires the right leadership.
Imran Haidar
Chief Executive Officer
Imran brought the steady hand and consistent leadership the business needed. While others chased shiny opportunities, Imran kept the focus on what mattered: delivering for clients, looking after the team, and building a company with a reputation that would outlast any single project. His calm, measured approach to running the business gave everyone around him the confidence to push harder and aim higher.
Abdul Khan
CIO & Technical Architect
Abdul brought structure and systems to a fast-growing operation. While the workshop was producing exceptional signage, Abdul focused on the business challenges behind the scenes — putting processes in place, building software solutions to streamline workflows, and making sure the company could scale without things falling through the cracks. From quoting and project management to design pipelines and client platforms, Abdul solved problems with technology that let everyone else focus on what they do best.
Sukh Swali
Director of Sales — Retail & Wholesale
Sukh completed the picture. With an exceptional network of industry contacts and a natural instinct for building relationships, he became the driving force behind the company's commercial growth. He built and leads a sales team that operates across both retail and wholesale channels, and has a rare ability to understand what a client needs before they've finished explaining it. His reputation across the trade for closing deals that others walk away from is well earned. Much of the company's expansion can be traced directly back to the partnerships, accounts, and opportunities that Sukh and his team brought through the door.
Chapter Three
From One Unit
to 36,000 Sq Ft
In 2018, we invested in the Agfa Anapurna flatbed UV printer — bringing large-format printing entirely in-house for the first time. Complete control over colour accuracy, finish quality, and turnaround. It changed what we could offer.
By 2020, we'd acquired Units 4 and 5, expanding to over 36,000 square feet. The Trotec laser cutter and Letter Bender followed. Capabilities that most signage companies outsource, we now had under one roof. It meant faster turnaround, tighter quality control, and the ability to take on projects that would have been impossible three years earlier.
In 2022, we launched a bespoke awnings division and won the BDCC Business Growth Award. The following year, we delivered the Paris St Germain flagship store on Regent Street — on an 8-day deadline — and introduced an electric vehicle fleet.
36,000
Sq Ft Facility
1,000+
Projects Delivered
6
Industry Awards
10+
Years in Business
“We never set out to be the biggest.
We set out to be the one people recommend.”
Chapter Four
Where We Are Now
In 2025, Sign Architects won two major awards at the Barking & Dagenham Chamber of Commerce ceremony — Business Growth and SME of the Year. A decade of relentless focus on quality, technology, and client relationships, recognised by our peers.
Today we operate from a fully equipped 36,000 sq ft facility with a team of graphic designers, CNC engineers, sign makers, surveyors, installers, and a sales team covering retail and wholesale. We've delivered signage for everyone from local independents to Paris St Germain, Malabar Gold & Diamonds, and the London Stadium.
But despite the growth, the awards, and the partnerships — the thing that hasn't changed is the thing that matters most. Every project still gets the same attention to detail. Every sign still gets built like our name is on it. Because it is.
What We Stand For
Quality. Innovation. Integrity.
Quality
Every sign designed from scratch, manufactured in-house, installed by our own qualified and fully insured teams. Our 5-year warranty is a promise, not a marketing line.
Innovation
Continuous investment in CNC routing, Trotec laser cutting, LED systems, and UV printing. Our clients get the best the industry can offer because we never stop upgrading.
Integrity
Honest pricing, transparent timelines, no hidden surprises. Every client relationship is a long-term partnership built on trust.
The Next Chapter
Your Project. Our Obsession.
Whether it's a single shopfront or a nationwide rollout, we bring the same precision and care to every project.