Membership May: A Month of Connection, Belonging, Growth, and Future

May 27, 2026

Rachel Moran

SEGD’s Membership May celebrates connection, belonging, growth, and the future of experiential design. From new Bootcamps and the Academic Summit to member discounts and giveaways, it’s a month dedicated to community. Join or renew with code WELCOME26 for 26% off through May 31.

What a month it’s been.

Membership May was built around four ideas that sit at the heart of SEGD — Connection, Belonging, Growth, and Future. As we close out the month, we want to take a moment to reflect on what we explored together, celebrate what our community has built, and look ahead to what’s coming.

Connection

Design has always been about people, and so has SEGD.

In honor of International Design Day, SEGD CEO Cybelle Jones sat down with design leaders to explore what connects us across disciplines, geographies, and practices. One of those voices, Carol Wedge, put it simply: people are looking for community, a place to be alone together, in the company of other humans, even without a word exchanged.

That quiet pull toward connection is exactly what drives the work our members do every day. Watch all of the conversations on the SEGD YouTube Channel.

Belonging

How many times have you walked into an SEGD event — a Chapter gathering, an opening party, a virtual Professional Practice Group meeting — and thought, these are my people?

That feeling is not accidental. As SEGD Board President Aki Carpenter describes it, what matters is “creating those conditions where people can process and connect and even sometimes disagree together. That’s what it means to learn in public.” SEGD is intentional about placing people at the center of our work, because design fails when we forget who it’s for.

Whether you’re in a major design hub or a smaller city, there is a place for you here. Local Chapters host tours, speakers, and casual networking events. Our three Professional Practice Groups meet virtually each month, bringing together members from around the world to discuss everything from technical specifications for the built environment to the nuances of the client-designer relationship. Wherever you are, SEGD has a space where you belong.

Growth

SEGD listens. And this year, we acted.

Responding to feedback from the 2025 SEGD Member Survey, we launched our first-ever Bootcamps this April in Orlando, alongside the ISA International Sign Expo, and introducing certificate of completion-based professional development opportunities members have been asking for.

The SEGD Accessible Design Bootcamp gave participants hands-on tools to experience how people with vision and mobility impairments navigate the built world. One participant reflected: “The hands-on experiences were an invaluable opportunity to see how others survive daily living. I can immediately use the provided resources directly to inform my work.”

The SEGD Business + Leadership Bootcamp took participants through the full arc of project management, from budgeting and coordination to leading a project. Participants valued “hearing the difficulties and processes from different studio types and perspectives” as a way to build real-world resilience.

We’re expanding Bootcamp offerings at the 2026 SEGD Conference Experience in Kansas City, October 22–24, and we hope you’ll grow and learn with us there.

Future

Look around. Our members are shaping the world by designing exhibits, signage, public installations, workplaces, and hospitals that connect people to place in meaningful ways. The next generation of SEGD is arriving, and we’re ready to welcome them.

This June, we’re shining a light on the researchers, educators, and innovators pushing experiential design forward. The 2026 SEGD Academic Summit (June 24–25, virtual and open to all) will feature 16 researchers sharing design education work, projects, and curriculum innovation. 

Building that future also means building it equitably. Our SEGD Salary and EmploymentSurvey gives the field a clearer picture of where we are; compensation trends, career pathways, and the gaps we still need to close. Whether you’re just starting out or decades into your career, your response helps ensure the next generation of designers enters a profession that values and rewards their work fairly. If you haven’t taken it yet, there’s still time.

Want to help bring someone new into the SEGD community? Consider a Student or Museum Professional Membership Pack as a meaningful way to invest in the next generation of designers. 

Gift a Student Membership or Gift a Museum Professional Membership to someone who would benefit from being part of SEGD.

Are you a student or museum professional not yet in the community? 

Fill out the form to apply for a donated complimentary membership: SEGD Student Gift Membership | SEGD Museum Professional Gift Membership.

Space is limited, so complete the membership request form by May 31 to be included in the chance to win the weekly and monthly prize.

There’s still time to join the celebration.

Membership May isn’t over yet. Join or renew with code WELCOME26 for a 26% discount, and you’ll be automatically entered to win:

• This week: One complimentary registration to the 2026 SEGD Conference Experience Kansas City | October 22-24
• End of month: A 2027 SEGD Event Bundle registration package

And don’t miss the New Member Roundtable, May 28, 3:00–4:00 PM ET. It’s a welcoming space to connect with fellow new and renewing members and get the most out of your SEGD membership.