OUR MISSION

Signal-Return is a Detroit nonprofit dedicated to preserving and teaching traditional letterpress printing, and building a community center for art, craft, design and collaboration.

OUR NAME

Think of it as a powerful metaphor for communication: a message (a signal) is sent out, and a response is sent back (is returned).

OUR ORGANIZATION

Signal-Return is leading the Detroit revival of letterpress printing—a technology that radically transformed human communication in the 15th century, and an art and a craft appreciated anew in the 21st century. Since its invention, the printing press has been a powerful change agent, and this idea has guided Signal-Return since its founding in 2011.

First and foremost, our space is a letterpress print shop that sets the stage for all our programming and activities. Signal-Return’s innovative and wide ranging programming—our hands-on arts workshops, Open Studio program, visiting artists, our educational partnerships with universities, elementary and high schools, along with collaborations with other arts and culture organizations — supports an ever-growing and vital Detroit arts community.