NVA

The design challenge was significant. Four brands. One space. A national organization with multiple decision-makers who all needed to love the outcome. And a client who had a clear creative vision - a collectibles wall, antique farrier equipment from the 1800s, a veterinary syringe from the 1930s, which required BIG to go far beyond fabrication and become researchers, collectors, and curators. This was not a signage project. This was world-building.

Building Image Group was given creative freedom, and they used every bit of it. The design framework was built around a single idea: tell the story of NVA's different branches through one unified visual language, rooted in the history and heart of veterinary medicine. Every element — from the gallery-style photography walls to the hand-sourced antique collectibles — was chosen and crafted to honor that mission.

The Dog Tag Mural: 2,538 individual dog tags, each one part of a large-scale dimensional wall mural. It is part installation, part tribute — a tactile, emotional centerpiece that stops people in their tracks and tells the story of the animals at the heart of everything NVA does.

The Collectibles Wall: BIG conducted a deep-dive research process to identify, source, and obtain rare, one-of-a-kind antique veterinary collectibles — including an antique farrier adjustable hoof jack stand from 1890 and a veterinary syringe from the 1930s. Finding these pieces required patience, expertise, and persistence; obtaining them required relationships and resourcefulness. The result is a curated wall that feels like a museum exhibit and a family heirloom at the same time.

Wire Sculptures: BIG's work doesn't start and stop with signage. On select projects, the team is called upon to create original art — and NVA was one of those projects. Three-dimensional wire sculptures, conceived and crafted in-house, brought an artisan dimension to the space that no off-the-shelf product could replicate. The Photo Gallery Walls. Inspired by the experience of walking through an art show, BIG curated and produced 6–8 gallery-style photography walls showcasing images the client had collected over the years. The result feels less like an office environment and more like an exhibition — a space that invites you to slow down, look closely, and feel something.

The Lobby Installation: At the entrance of this Class A office building, BIG designed a large-scale lobby installation that made an immediate impression without overwhelming the space. The brief called for something organic, something that felt like it belonged — and that is exactly what was delivered.

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Four brands, one cohesive story — Designing a unified visual language across four distinct brands required deep strategic thinking before a single line was drawn. Brand hierarchy, color, tone, and narrative all had to be resolved before fabrication could begin.
National stakeholder alignment — NVA's decision-making structure meant navigating multiple layers of approval across a national organization. BIG developed a design package compelling enough to build consensus across every room it entered.
Sourcing bespoke antique collectibles — There is no vendor for an 1890 farrier hoof jack stand. BIG researched, identified, and sourced every antique item individually — a process that required knowledge of veterinary history, access to specialty collectors, and the persistence to see it through.
Art fabrication alongside signage — Managing the scope of original art creation (dog tag mural, wire sculptures) in parallel with a full signage and environmental graphics program required careful production planning and a team with both craft skills and creative range.

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