diff --git a/dspy/signatures/signature.py b/dspy/signatures/signature.py
index 098acfd026..7bb1f802de 100644
--- a/dspy/signatures/signature.py
+++ b/dspy/signatures/signature.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import re
 import dsp
 
-from .field import Field
+from .field import Field, InputField, OutputField
 import threading
 
 class SignatureMeta(type):
@@ -34,22 +34,92 @@ def __new__(cls, name, bases, class_dict):
         return new_class
 
     def __call__(cls, *args, **kwargs):
+        if len(args) == 1 and isinstance(args[0], str):
+            instance = super(SignatureMeta, cls).__call__(*args, **kwargs)
+            return instance
+        #old 
         return cls._template(*args, **kwargs)
 
     def __getattr__(cls, attr):
         # Redirect attribute access to the template object when accessed on the class directly
         return getattr(cls._template, attr)
+
+class Signature(metaclass=SignatureMeta):
+    def __init__(self, signature: str = "", instructions: str = ""):
+        self.signature = signature
+        self.instructions = instructions
+        self.fields = {}
+        self.parse_structure()
     
-    def __repr__(cls):
-        s = []
+    @property
+    def kwargs(self):
+        return {k: v for k, v in self.fields.items()}
+
+    def parse_structure(self):
+        inputs_str, outputs_str = self.signature.split("->")
+        for name in inputs_str.split(","):
+            self.add_field(name.strip(), InputField())
+        for name in outputs_str.split(","):
+            self.add_field(name.strip(), OutputField())
+
+    def attach(self, **kwargs):
+        for key, (prefix, desc) in kwargs.items():
+            field_type = self.fields.get(key)
+            if not field_type:
+                raise ValueError(f"{key} does not exist in this signature")
+            field_map = {
+                InputField: InputField(prefix=prefix, desc=desc),
+                OutputField: OutputField(prefix=prefix, desc=desc)
+            }
+            self.fields[key] = field_map.get(type(field_type))
+        return self
+
+    def add_field(self, field_name: str, field_type, position="append"):
+        if field_name in self.fields:
+            raise ValueError(f"{field_name} already exists in fields.")
+        if isinstance(field_type, (InputField, OutputField)):
+            field_instance = field_type
+        else:
+            raise ValueError(f"non-existent {field_type}.")
+        if isinstance(field_instance, InputField) and position == "append":
+            input_fields = self.input_fields()
+            if input_fields:
+                last_input_key = list(input_fields.keys())[-1]
+                index = list(self.fields.keys()).index(last_input_key) + 1
+                self.fields = {**dict(list(self.fields.items())[:index]), field_name: field_instance, **dict(list(self.fields.items())[index:])}
+            else:
+                self.fields[field_name] = field_instance
+        elif isinstance(field_instance, OutputField) and position == "prepend":
+            output_fields = self.output_fields()
+            if output_fields:
+                first_output_key = list(output_fields.keys())[0]
+                index = list(self.fields.keys()).index(first_output_key)
+                self.fields = {**dict(list(self.fields.items())[:index]), field_name: field_instance, **dict(list(self.fields.items())[index:])}
+            else:
+                self.fields[field_name] = field_instance
+        elif position == "prepend":
+            self.fields = {field_name: field_instance, **self.fields}
+        elif position == "append":
+            self.fields[field_name] = field_instance
+        else:
+            raise ValueError(f"invalid field addition. Please verify that your field name: {field_name}, field_type: {field_type}, and expected position: {position} are correct.")
 
-        for name, field in cls.signature.__dict__.items():
-            s.append(f"- {name} = {field}")
-        
-        return f'{cls.__name__}\n' + '\n'.join(s)
+    def input_fields(self):
+        return {k: v for k, v in self.fields.items() if isinstance(v, InputField)}
 
+    def output_fields(self):
+        return {k: v for k, v in self.fields.items() if isinstance(v, OutputField)}
+
+    def __repr__(self):
+        s = []
+        for name, _ in self.fields.items():
+            value = getattr(self, name, None)
+            if value:
+                s.append(f"- {name} = {value}")
+            else:
+                s.append(f"- {name} = [field not attached]")
+        return f'{self.__class__.__name__}\n' + '\n'.join(s)
 
-class Signature(metaclass=SignatureMeta):
     def __eq__(self, __value: object) -> bool:
         return self._template == __value._template