Clifford L. Selbert, FSEGD: Remembering a Visionary in Environmental Graphic Design

In Memoriam: Clifford L. Selbert, FSEGD (1953–2026). SEGD Fellow, Co-Founder, Selbert Perkins Design.

Clifford L. Selbert, FSEGD (1953–2026)

From SEGD

It is with profound sadness and deep love for one of our own that SEGD shares the passing of Clifford L. Selbert, SEGD Fellow and co-founder of the internationally celebrated Selbert Perkins Design. Cliff passed away peacefully on March 19, 2026, after a long and courageous battle with cancer. He was 72.

Cliff was more than a leader in our field — he was a cornerstone of this community. His belief that design should inspire, orient, and connect people to one another shaped not just his extraordinary body of work, but the discipline of environmental graphic design itself. Generations of designers found in Cliff a mentor, a collaborator, and a champion. We were fortunate to count him as a Fellow, a speaker, a thought leader, and a friend.

SEGD extends its deepest condolences to his wife and creative partner, Robin Perkins; their daughter, Galen Selbert-Perkins; and the entire team at Selbert Perkins Design. We grieve alongside you, and we celebrate an extraordinary life.

Obituary

Clifford L. Selbert, a pioneering force in environmental graphic design and placemaking who co-founded Selbert Perkins Design, passed away peacefully on March 19, 2026, at the age of 72, after a long and courageous battle with cancer.

Born October 9, 1953, in Amsterdam, New York, Cliff studied landscape architecture at the Rhode Island School of Design. He began developing the multidisciplinary approach that would define his life’s work, with his early interests expanding beyond landscape architecture into graphic design, product design, and environmental communications — fields he would ultimately bring together into a new and influential design discipline.

More than 40 years ago, Cliff founded a small studio driven by a belief in the power of design to shape human experience. That studio evolved into Selbert Perkins Design, an internationally recognized firm with studios in Los Angeles, Boston, Chicago, and Shanghai. Alongside his wife and creative partner, Robin Perkins, he helped grow the practice into a global leader in branding, signage and wayfinding, placemaking, and experiential design.

Every place has a story. Every story has a place.

This belief reflected a deep commitment to the public realm and to the communities it serves. Cliff was passionate about creating meaningful, inclusive environments — places where people could connect not only with space, but with each other. His work consistently reflected a respect for context, culture, and human experience, transforming everyday environments into places of identity and belonging.

Cliff was widely regarded as one of the defining voices in environmental graphic design. He bridged disciplines — uniting graphic design, architecture, landscape, branding, and storytelling to create memorable and impactful places. His projects spanned civic, transit, healthcare, education, and commercial environments across the world, always guided by the belief that design should do more than inform — it should inspire, orient, and make people smile. His vision can be seen in landmarks including the LAX Gateway, Universal Studios, the World of Coca-Cola, and Canal City in Hakata, Japan.

A Fellow of SEGD, Cliff received numerous design awards and professional honors over the course of his distinguished career, including recognition from his alma mater with the Business of Design Award. He consistently emphasized a collaborative team approach, placing the highest value on mentorship, partnership, and the shared success of those around him. Under his leadership, generations of designers were given the space to experiment, grow, and contribute meaningfully.

To those closest to him, Cliff was more than a visionary — he was a devoted husband, father, partner, and friend. He is survived by his wife, Robin Perkins; his daughter, Galen Selbert-Perkins; his extended family; and a global community of friends, colleagues, and collaborators whose lives he profoundly touched.

A celebration of life will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Cliff’s memory to organizations supporting design education, public space initiatives, and cancer research.

Voices of Experience

As part of SEGD’s 50th Anniversary, Cliff and Robin sat down for our Voices of Experience mini-documentary series — a rich and moving conversation on their work, their creative partnership, and the evolution of experiential design.

From the SEGD community

We asked a few SEGD Fellows to share their remembrances of Cliff. Their words reflect what so many of us feel.

A remembrance from SEGD Fellow David Vanden Eynden
Chris Calori and I met Clifford (and Robin) at an SEGD conference at Cranbrook in the mid 80s. We immediately bonded on personal and spiritual levels, kinda like soul mates, and remained close friends for 40 years. While we were not close geographically (east coast vs. west coast) we were closely connected by a deep love and respect for each other. Friendships like that don’t come around very often. A brilliant and accomplished designer, Clifford was also quite humble about the accomplishments of the Selbert Perkins office. He is a giant among EGD designers and an SEGD trailblazer and advocate. He and Robin are SEGD legends and their contributions to the field and the organization are enormous.
David Vanden Eynden, FSEGD
A remembrance from SEGD Fellow Alan Jacobson, 
I was always a big fan of Cliff Selbert. His passionate approach to design inspired me, inviting all design disciplines to participate. Partnered with Robin, their work is so thoughtful, accessible, informative and joyful. Cliff was serious about big ideas and led with resolve to make them happen. I admit that I hoped to become his friend one day. The first time that I had the opportunity to get to know Cliff was at the SEGD conference in Philadelphia back in 2004. I had the honor of being co-chair of the conference that year, which, other than helping to curate the program, came with an assumed responsibility of helping people get to know Philly and have some fun. As a post-Day One conference session, sixteen people, including Cliff and Robin, joined me in a curated walk of Center City, Philadelphia. With only a vague idea of a plan in mind,  Cliff was all in and very enthusiastic about the possibilities.  So on the walk, Cliff was a “Yes Man” to any ideas for this walk, so spontaneity ruled the night. The last stop, though, was Iconic. El Vez restaurant was our final destination, and they were able to accommodate all of us at a long table that happened to be situated next to a photo booth. I made the challenge that we see how many SEGD people we can get in the booth for a photo. Cliff jumped right in. The table cleared, and we formed a line waiting to have our turn with whoever managed to fit. This was a playful Cliff. If I remember correctly, it was pretty hard to get Cliff out of the photo booth. This was the guy I came to know as great fun, open to adventure, who held great affection for SEGD and the people who shared his passion. Soon after, Robin and I were on the board of directors of SEGD for a few years, so our friendship came first. A few years later, I had the opportunity to collaborate with Cliff on a variety of projects where we became friends. Lots of car rides, design sessions, presentations, and nights out. I felt so honored to be working with Cliff. I learned so much from him, like how to convince a client to do the right thing and go with the big, scary idea.  Cliff will always be, for me, a best friend that I never got enough of. I will miss him dearly.
Alan Jacobson, FSEGD
A remembrance from SEGD’s CEO
Clifford Selbert was, in every sense of the word, epic. I first met Cliff and Robin at the SEGD Conference in Montreal in 2011 — the year they were recognized as Fellows. I was co-hosting a fabulously chaotic Design Improv session with David Vanden Eynden when they appeared in the doorway, elegantly dressed and thoroughly amused. When their names were called as Fellows hours later, my mortification was complete. I found Cliff afterward and tried to explain that I didn't always wear hockey team-inspired wigs and dance in public — but Cliff was a truly kind, funny, and gracious human being, and he made me feel like it was the most natural introduction in the world. When I joined SEGD as CEO in 2020, bringing Cliff and Robin back as speakers and filming them for our Voices of Experience series at our 50th Anniversary was among my greatest privileges. His passing is a profound loss for our organization, our field, and for me personally. What he built — the work, the community, the discipline he helped define — endures.
Cybelle Jones, CEO, SEGD

Share your memories

We are collecting tributes, memories, and images from across the SEGD community to honor Cliff’s legacy. If you’d like to contribute a remembrance or photograph, please use the form below.

Share a Memory of Clifford L. Selbert

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