Collective Insights | Via Collective

Building Accessibility through Experience: Inside SEGD’s First Accessible Design Bootcamp

Jess Schrader — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 16:59:36 +0000

April marked a major milestone for the design community as the Society for Experiential Graphic Design (SEGD) Accessible Design Task Force launched its first certificate-based Professional Development Bootcamp at the 2026 ISA International Sign Expo in Orlando, Florida. Focused on accessible design and evolving building code requirements, the program set out to move beyond theory and immerse…

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NJTransAction Conference: Rethinking How We Build and Connect

Katie Osborn — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 16:35:16 +0000

This year’s NJTransAction Conference brought together leaders across transportation, infrastructure, and design to discuss some of the industry’s most pressing challenges. Across sessions, three themes stood out: the rapid rise of AI in construction, the deep coordination required for the success of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and the ongoing effort to deliver major infrastructure in dense…

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AI and Design: Expanding Capacity, Not Replacing It

James Tupling — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 11:41:52 +0000

AI and Design: Expanding Capacity, Not Replacing It In the age of AI, conversations about its impact on design often swing between extremes. A common narrative suggests that AI will replace designers entirely, reducing creative work to a prompt. It’s a compelling idea, but it overlooks something fundamental. Design is not just output– it is judgment, empathy, and interpretation.

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Wayfinding: More Than Just Signage

Katie Osborn — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 12:15:19 +0000

Wayfinding is often reduced to signs and symbols—but it’s far more than that. In Wayfinding: More Than Just Signage for Transform Magazine, I challenge this narrow perception, emphasizing that plaques and arrows are only a small part of a much broader, more nuanced experience. True wayfinding begins earlier than most realize—long before they ever encounter a physical sign.

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Shaping the Future: How Women-Led Networks are Transforming AEC

Katie Osborn — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 11:30:27 +0000

As Women’s History Month comes to a close, I’ve been reflecting on what it truly takes to build in this city. Beyond the technical feats of engineering, New York is a landscape being reshaped by women who refuse to accept the status quo. In the AEC world, professional organizations are far more than networking hubs—they are the strategic engines providing the visibility and mentorship necessary to…

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Reflections from New York Build Expo

Jess Schrader — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 16:26:47 +0000

Last week at the New York Build Expo, one theme resonated across every conversation: the built environment is shifting from isolated “objects” to integrated systems. Architecture is no longer just about the building—it’s about how design influences how we move through and connect within the city. Discussions focused on how architectural and experience design are expanding beyond individual…

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A Conversation Without Words

Katie Osborn — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 11:00:15 +0000

February is often a season for reflection and connection. In the world of wayfinding, that mindset manifests as empathy. It is found in the quiet, often invisible decisions that transform complex environments—like sprawling campuses, high-stakes hospital, or dense urban centers—into a space that feels intuitive, calm, and welcoming. At its best, wayfinding is an act of care.

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International Wayfinding Month

Katie Osborn — Tue, 27 Jan 2026 16:19:05 +0000

Each January, International Wayfinding Month invites us to reflect on the essential role wayfinding plays in how people experience the built environment around the world. For Via Collective, this moment is an opportunity to pause and consider why wayfinding remains so central to how we think about design, access, and human experience. From hospitals and universities to transportation hubs…

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16 Things We Are Grateful For in 2025

Katie Osborn — Tue, 25 Nov 2025 16:31:17 +0000

This month, Via Collective celebrates 16 years! Over the past year, we’ve grown, learned, and evolved—welcoming new clients and team members, tackling inspiring projects, and strengthening how we collaborate as a team. It’s been a year full of milestones, challenges, achievements, and plenty of moments worth celebrating. I’m incredibly proud of the work we create, the people who make up our team…

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A Conversation on Cinematic Wayfinding

Katie Osborn — Sun, 02 Nov 2025 16:09:44 +0000

Reflecting on the power of collaboration and the many intentional choices behind the work, Katie Osborn recently joined Jack Cousins of Transform for a conversation about the NYU project. In the interview, she offered a closer look at the thinking that shaped the experience—from early strategy conversations to the final details installed in the space. Together, they unpacked the unique…

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