This month, Via Collective celebrates 14 years. This year was one of expansive growth including new clients, projects, and adding five new team members to ensure success. It wasn’t short of its challenges, but it was also full of celebrations. All this makes me proud of the work we do, the team we are, our clients, and our collaborators that we create systems with to serve the visitors we are designing for. So in honor of 14 years, during this month of giving thanks, here are 14 things I’m grateful for.
1. The Team. Our team has seen exponential growth this year with the addition of five new team members. They have all brought unique backgrounds and experiences, and some even have established working relationships! I am incredibly grateful for the team that is Via Collective.
2. New and Established Relationships. We pride ourselves on our collaborative design process and the relationships we build with our clients and partners. Over the last 5 years, more than 80% of our work is with existing clients or referrals from them. This year has brought collaboration with NYU Tisch School of the Arts, a client for over 10 years, and collaboration with new firms including Diller Scofidio + Renfro (DSR), Parsons, and Manual Creative.
3. Projects that Raise the Bar. This year brought new, high-profile projects igniting our passion for innovative design and pushing the Via Collective team to the next level! Follow us on Instagram for the latest in new project announcements.
4. Awarded Gold. Penn Station Critical Improvements Project was awarded Gold at the 2023 Transform Awards North America for “Best Wayfinding/Signage”. We are honored to be among the firms recognized for excellence in creativity and execution for brand strategy, design, and communications.
5. Long Awaited Project Launches. After decades of planning, design, and construction, this year brought the completion and opening of Grand Central Madison, bringing Long Island Rail Road service to Grand Central Terminal. This project brings access to the east side of Manhattan for Long Island riders and easy connections from LIRR to Metro-North Railroad.
6. Inclusivity. Our continued focus on inclusive design has allowed our team to design innovative solutions in various circumstances, provide top-level requirements, and broaden our clients’ awareness of their visitors and user groups. Celebrating the differences of individuals makes for better solutions!
7. Entrepreneurial Spirit. As a small business that continues to ebb and flow through growth, having an entrepreneurial spirit is the driver behind the success of Via Collective. Working with clients, consultants, and colleagues with that same spirit has propelled us to take risks and keep moving when others told us we couldn’t. And we did, and our success is based on our belief that we would succeed.
8. Conferences Are Back. With the rise of in-person gatherings following the pandemic, it has been great to attend a variety of conferences this year. From learning about the changing landscape of airports at AAAE/ACC Airport Planning, Design, & Construction Symposium to the innovation unfolding amongst landscapes at ASLA Conference on Landscape Architecture, it has been inspiring and /The energy, inspiration, and small-world connections acquired at these events never ceases to amaze me.
9. The Customer Experience. As DBE and WBE-certified wayfinding consultants, we have been looking at how wayfinding impacts the customer experience. Through this lens, wayfinding can have a physical presence in the space and contribute to the overall customer journey. We look at all aspects of their touchpoints, or interactions, to create clear and intuitive systems.
10. Mentorship. Sharing our knowledge of wayfinding with a new generation of designers is always rewarding. But finding ourselves in this intergenerational mentorship where they in turn share their knowledge of technology and global design provides immense value for both sides.
11. Perception of Wayfinding. I recently wrote this piece for Transform Magazine about what wayfinding is and isn’t and I’m grateful to see the perceptions of wayfinding shift from an afterthought to an integral part of the design process. Working with clients who not only understand but embrace the value of wayfinding to create stronger user experiences and connections to brands is what fuels our team every day.
12. Community. The brilliance, advocacy, opportunities, and community in wayfinding continue to blow me away. The leaders in this space, including SEGD, come together to share resources, education, and inspiration around the work we do.
13. Cheerleaders. Family and friends who have shown up, supported me, given me great (or terrible) advice, and made introductions that provided opportunities to speak about this passion of mine… thank you!
14. You. Thank you for reading, for sharing, and celebrating with us!