Thought Leadership

By Karen Zwart Hielema

Adventurous, dynamic, living life to the fullest. That is how I would describe my partner Gelare. The ULI Placemaking Council is a great place for her to contribute her talents, passion for placemaking, and zest for life. Congratulations on your appointment as Vice Chair of Thought Leadership to the council!

Let’s GO!

By Gelare Danaie

Image courtesy of Metrolinx

Bowmanville GO Station Signage & Wayfinding

The day I parted ways with the company that launched my career in Canada as a new immigrant was emotional. I genuinely liked everyone I worked with—my direct boss and mentor, the aviation team, inspiring designers, knowledgeable managers, and even my future partner in the design practice we now run together. I learned so much there: how to design complex transportation projects, lead teams, manage financials, build strong client relationships—but most importantly, how to work with all kinds of people. The foundation of our company today is deeply rooted in that culture—one that invests in people and fosters lasting relationships in the built environment industry.

Now, six years into running our own business, we’ve signed our first sub-consultant agreement with that very same company—Stantec! It’s a small wayfinding project for a GO Station in Bowmanville, but it means a lot. Even the kickoff meeting with the design team felt different from any of our other projects—it felt like coming home.

As a small woman-owned firm, having the opportunity to work with the company where we built our careers is deeply rewarding. Trust takes time, and we’re fortunate that the relationships we’ve built are grounded in mutual respect and understanding.

The project is currently in the design phase, and we’re looking forward to more opportunities to collaborate with the Stantec team as we continue to grow our customer experience design services across Canada and the U.S.—in transportation and aviation, healthcare, higher education, and beyond.

Making the System Work: Wayfinding for the Scarborough Subway Extension

By Karen Zwart Hielema

Image courtesy of Metrolinx

I love it when systems work well – when they are clear and efficient. With every sign that we place in a transit station, our goal is for a seamless passenger journey. Sometimes the architecture facilitates wayfinding, and a sign is not needed!

The DEXD team has been awarded a role as wayfinding and signage consultants as part of the larger delivery team for Scarborough Subway Extension. This marks our second large-scale transit project in Canada, and we’re thrilled to bring our expertise in human-centered design and intuitive wayfinding to this global team of experts including SENER, DIALOG, and GUNN.

A subway line is more than just a line—it’s a vital transportation system that stitches the fabric of a city and keeps our communities connected. The line will extend Toronto's Line 2 subway by 7.8 km, connecting with more than six transit options across the city. This expansion will replace the Scarborough RT (Line 3) and help reduce travel times while improving access to jobs, schools, and other destinations in Toronto. An image can speak a thousand words, but there are numbers that carry deep meaning. Consider the impact this line will have:

• Ridership: 105,000 daily boardings

• Increase in transit use: 52,000 daily

• People within walking distance: 38,000

• Access to jobs: 34,000

• Annual reduction in greenhouse gas emissions: 10,000 tonnes

Delivering large-scale, complex projects can sometimes make it easy to lose sight of the broader importance of our work as we navigate through daily tasks, submissions, and technical reviews. But it’s important to remind ourselves that at the heart of every professional involved in a public project is a passion for doing good for the community. It’s about working toward the mission of creating collective joy and building spaces where everyone’s quality of life improves.

That’s why, with every sign we place in the subway systems, we are one step closer to fulfilling the mission of our company: creating spaces that enhance people’s lives.

Congratulations, DEXD team!