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.
Central to Cliff’s work was a guiding philosophy he and his firm championed: “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. Cliff‘s vision and influence can be seen in the work of Selbert Perkins Design around the world, including the LAX Gateway, Universal Studios, the World of Coca-Cola, and Canal City in Hakata, Japan.
Over the course of his distinguished career, Cliff received numerous design awards and professional honors recognizing both his creative vision and his lasting impact on the field. A Fellow of the Society for Experiential Graphic Design (SEGD), he was among the most respected leaders in his discipline. His work and leadership were celebrated by industry organizations, academic institutions, and peers alike, including recognition from his alma mater with the Business of Design Award. Cliff consistently emphasized a collaborative team approach, placing the highest value on mentorship, partnership, and the shared success of those around him.
Beyond his professional achievements, Cliff built something even more enduring: a culture and a community. He believed deeply in empowering others—encouraging freedom of expression, bold thinking, collaboration, and integrity in design. Under his leadership, generations of designers were given the space to experiment, grow, and contribute meaningfully. His influence lives on not only in the built environment, but in the people he mentored and inspired.
To those closest to him, Cliff was more than a visionary—he was a devoted husband, father, partner, and friend. He shared a life and creative partnership with his wife, Robin Perkins, and was a proud father to their daughter, Galen Selbert-Perkins.
He also leaves behind a large and loving extended family, along with an extraordinary network of friends, colleagues, and collaborators across the globe. Cliff had a rare ability to connect with people—forming lasting relationships that often extended far beyond the workplace. His warmth, generosity, curiosity, and sense of humor created deep and enduring bonds with all who knew him.
Clifford Selbert’s legacy is both tangible and deeply human—seen in the landmarks he helped shape, the discipline he helped define, and the community he built. His work changed how people experience the world—and his spirit will continue to guide those who carry that work forward.
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.