Richard Wolfströme MISTD AoU FRSA
I am an award-winning creative with over 38 years of experience, dedicated to advancing environmental and information design by pushing both creative and technical boundaries. I specialise in holistic wayfinding, cultural placemaking, interpretation, and public art; developing distinctive design solutions for places, buildings, urban environments, parks, and landscapes. My interventions foster local pride and meaning while delivering clear, engaging experiential design that strengthens people’s connection to place.
I’ve developed a strategic approach to public art that ensures outcomes are relevant, meaningful, and selected through a fair, rigorous process. Authentic engagement with stakeholders and communities lies at the heart of curating and delivering work that resonates with its audience.
Beyond this, I work across nomenclature, branding, and identity systems for places and buildings. I craft contemporary yet contextually sensitive solutions that unify environmental and spatial design, enhancing accessibility and cohesion. This includes well-branded print and digital materials to support a consistent and engaging user experience.
I’ve also pioneered a distinction between wayfinding and ‘wayfaring’: wayfinding supports direct navigation from A to B, while wayfaring invites exploration and deeper connection. My unique methodology integrates signage, storytelling, trails, and public art; developed in close collaboration with artists, communities, and clients to create layered, memorable experiences of place.
My work spans multiple sectors, and I’ve spoken in the UK and Scandinavia on design, place identity, and public realm strategy.
Affiliations
• Member, International Society of Typographic Designers
• RSA Fellow
• Academician, The Academy of Urbanism
• Member, International Society of Typographic Designers
• RSA Fellow
• Academician, The Academy of Urbanism
Specialties:
Cultural placemaking
Information design
Holistic wayfinding
Narrative wayfaring
Environmental / public art
Consultancy
Workshopping
Stakeholder and community engagement and participation
Place identity and brand
Typography and graphic design
Information design
Holistic wayfinding
Narrative wayfaring
Environmental / public art
Consultancy
Workshopping
Stakeholder and community engagement and participation
Place identity and brand
Typography and graphic design
Internationally recognised typographic excellence
Awards
_ The Green Loop Wayfinding at Whitehill & Bordon Winner in the Award for Best Use of Arts, Culture or Sport in Placemaking for Planning Awards 2022
_ The Green Loop Wayfinding at Whitehill & Bordon Winner in the Best Project category for RTPI South East Awards for Planning Excellence 2022.
_ ISTD 2014 International Typography Awards; Certificate of Excellence Lightwriting
_ Graphis Logo 8 2012; Gold award for McMcArts logo
_ ISTD 2009 International Typography Awards; Certificate of Excellence 41 Places
_ UK Papers Awards 2006; Footnotes to an Idea book
_ BIMA (British Interactive Media Association) 1995; Donside awards CD-Rom
_ Donside Paper Company 1993; Reel Editing Company brochure
_ 24th Annual Typographic Design Excellence Competition 1992; Gold Award; Type – You Can't Touch It (MkII) brochure
_ The Green Loop Wayfinding at Whitehill & Bordon Winner in the Best Project category for RTPI South East Awards for Planning Excellence 2022.
_ ISTD 2014 International Typography Awards; Certificate of Excellence Lightwriting
_ Graphis Logo 8 2012; Gold award for McMcArts logo
_ ISTD 2009 International Typography Awards; Certificate of Excellence 41 Places
_ UK Papers Awards 2006; Footnotes to an Idea book
_ BIMA (British Interactive Media Association) 1995; Donside awards CD-Rom
_ Donside Paper Company 1993; Reel Editing Company brochure
_ 24th Annual Typographic Design Excellence Competition 1992; Gold Award; Type – You Can't Touch It (MkII) brochure
Published
_ Article for Architonic discussing contemporary wayfinding and identity placemaking https://lnkd.in/eRPmDk2
_ The Field Guide to Typography: Typefaces in the Urban Landscape, Peter Dawson, Thames & Hudson
_ Way of the Sign III, Artpower
_ Way of the Sign IV, Artpower
_ The Field Guide to Typography: Typefaces in the Urban Landscape, Peter Dawson, Thames & Hudson
_ Way of the Sign III, Artpower
_ Way of the Sign IV, Artpower
Education/Jury
_ Visiting lecturer – University of Creative Arts 2017
_ International Society of Typographic Designers student assessor 2009/2010/2011/2012/2014
_ University of Creative Arts – Creative Challenge assessor 2011/2012
_ International Society of Typographic Designers student assessor 2009/2010/2011/2012/2014
_ University of Creative Arts – Creative Challenge assessor 2011/2012
Speaking
_ 28.09.17 After Methods III, Märlardalen University, Väsetrås, Sweden
_ 11.05.16 Tyck om din innerstad (Enjoy you inner city), Väsetrås, Sweden
_ 13.04.16 Interactive Parks and Spaces, Helsingborg, Sweden
_ 24.02.16 Construction Voice, Brighton & Hove
_ 02.09.15 Large Parks in Large Cities conference, Stockholm
_ 20.02.15 ARTY Branding – Karlsgatan 2, Västerås, Sweden
_ 10.06.14 Torg och det offentliga rummet (Squares and public space) – Teknologisk Institut, Stockholm, Sweden
_ 19.03.14 Framtidens Handelsplatser (Future Trading Places), Stockholm, Sweden
_ 24.10.13 Stadens Dag, Stockholm, Sweden
_ 25.06.13 Future of Places Conference (Speed presentation), Stockholm, Sweden
_ 03.10.12 Making better places: RSA and University of Brighton
_ 20.06.12 Pecha Kucha: Love Architecture Festival 12
_ 22.05.12 Pecha Kucha: Eco-innovation Brighton
_ 27.04.12 The SEGD (Society of Environmental Design) International Symposium 2012, Victoria & Albert Museum
_ 23.02.11 Ride the wave: Let’s get together – how to make work collaboratively
_ 11.05.16 Tyck om din innerstad (Enjoy you inner city), Väsetrås, Sweden
_ 13.04.16 Interactive Parks and Spaces, Helsingborg, Sweden
_ 24.02.16 Construction Voice, Brighton & Hove
_ 02.09.15 Large Parks in Large Cities conference, Stockholm
_ 20.02.15 ARTY Branding – Karlsgatan 2, Västerås, Sweden
_ 10.06.14 Torg och det offentliga rummet (Squares and public space) – Teknologisk Institut, Stockholm, Sweden
_ 19.03.14 Framtidens Handelsplatser (Future Trading Places), Stockholm, Sweden
_ 24.10.13 Stadens Dag, Stockholm, Sweden
_ 25.06.13 Future of Places Conference (Speed presentation), Stockholm, Sweden
_ 03.10.12 Making better places: RSA and University of Brighton
_ 20.06.12 Pecha Kucha: Love Architecture Festival 12
_ 22.05.12 Pecha Kucha: Eco-innovation Brighton
_ 27.04.12 The SEGD (Society of Environmental Design) International Symposium 2012, Victoria & Albert Museum
_ 23.02.11 Ride the wave: Let’s get together – how to make work collaboratively
Clients
A Band of Brothers
ABCD Plan for Cultural Recovery
Academy of Urbanism
Adur & Worthing Council
ÅF
Arts & Business
Arundel Town Council
Ashfield District Council
Bagelman
Baobab
Bognor Regis BID
Bognor Regis Regeneration Board
Brighton Festival
Brighton & Hove Chamber of Commerce
Brighton & Hove City Council
British Council
Broads Authority / Broads National Park
Chalk Architects
Chichester City Council
City of London
City of Västerås, Sweden
Coast to Capital
Coastal West Sussex
COI Communications
Coventry City Council
Creative Giants
Creative Partnerships
Culture Mile
Deloitte
Department of Health
DrugScope
Ethical Property Group
First Base
Foreign & Commonwealth Office
Healy & Newsom
Gallions Housing Association
GeoInformation Group
Hackney Council
Horsham District Council
Hyde Group
Ilex Books
International Society of Typographic Designers
Kent Fire & Rescue Service
Lewes District Council
Liberty Property Trust UK
Linden Homes
London Fire Brigade
London Mapping Festival
Love Architecture Festival 2012/2013
LUC
Lumiere Durham 2011
Manor Royal
Matter Architecture
METREX
Moda Living
Newhaven Enterprise Zone
Oliver Heath Design
Pringle Brandon Perkins + Will
Rhythm Interactive
RSA
Socius Development Limited (previously First Base)
Southern Housing
St Paul’s Cathedral
The Dowsing Sound Collective
The Foundry
The Open Market
The Open University
The Sacred Trust
Urban Initiatives Studio
Urban Place Lab
Waltham Forest Council
Whitehill & Bordon
World Cities Network
Yelo Architects
ABCD Plan for Cultural Recovery
Academy of Urbanism
Adur & Worthing Council
ÅF
Arts & Business
Arundel Town Council
Ashfield District Council
Bagelman
Baobab
Bognor Regis BID
Bognor Regis Regeneration Board
Brighton Festival
Brighton & Hove Chamber of Commerce
Brighton & Hove City Council
British Council
Broads Authority / Broads National Park
Chalk Architects
Chichester City Council
City of London
City of Västerås, Sweden
Coast to Capital
Coastal West Sussex
COI Communications
Coventry City Council
Creative Giants
Creative Partnerships
Culture Mile
Deloitte
Department of Health
DrugScope
Ethical Property Group
First Base
Foreign & Commonwealth Office
Healy & Newsom
Gallions Housing Association
GeoInformation Group
Hackney Council
Horsham District Council
Hyde Group
Ilex Books
International Society of Typographic Designers
Kent Fire & Rescue Service
Lewes District Council
Liberty Property Trust UK
Linden Homes
London Fire Brigade
London Mapping Festival
Love Architecture Festival 2012/2013
LUC
Lumiere Durham 2011
Manor Royal
Matter Architecture
METREX
Moda Living
Newhaven Enterprise Zone
Oliver Heath Design
Pringle Brandon Perkins + Will
Rhythm Interactive
RSA
Socius Development Limited (previously First Base)
Southern Housing
St Paul’s Cathedral
The Dowsing Sound Collective
The Foundry
The Open Market
The Open University
The Sacred Trust
Urban Initiatives Studio
Urban Place Lab
Waltham Forest Council
Whitehill & Bordon
World Cities Network
Yelo Architects