Reviving Route 66: Curriculum Design for Future Sign Makers

This article proposes a certificate-level Design/Build curriculum to address the workforce chal-lenges facing Albuquerque’s signage industry. Based on original survey data, a Developing a Curriculum (DACUM) workshop, and a series of collaborative design charrettes, the curriculum connects traditional sign-making techniques and digital fabrication and culturally responsive design. The findings show critical skill gaps, aging work-force concerns, and institutional barriers to edu-cational program creation. The proposed solution offers training options aligned with the city’s visual identity and economic needs.