By signcraft
Posted on Sunday, August 3rd, 2025
Sometimes a high school job can lead you to a lifelong career. That’s how it worked for Adam Straus, whose high school co-op job landed him in Peter Moir’s shop, The Sign Depot, Ontario. Peter’s creative work inspired Adam to go on to college for graphic design and ultimately to a job as a graphic designer.
But he found he preferred designing signs more than designing for print or online use. “In graphic design,” says Adam, “you usually have a lot more copy to deal with. Sign design is much more straightforward, and signs can have much more impact.”
And, like many sign people, he liked making the signs as much as designing them. Making graphics is hands-on work that most graphic designers don’t get to do. Fabricating 3D signs and letters, painting wall signs and installing signs is creative and fun.
“I enjoy the production as much as I do the design side,” he says. “The sign business is pretty unique because you get to do both.”
Jump over to “Adam Straus: Growing a custom sign business” to see more of his work!