We’re based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Since 2013, Viable has worked with organizations trying to bring something into focus — a dataset that needs to tell a story, an environment people can step into, a tool that needs to fit real people, an idea that needs to become something usable.
The studio is small by design. When you work with Viable, you work with Joshua.
Most projects start with a conversation about a problem — a map that needs to show something it can't, a spreadsheet that became a liability, a workflow that fell apart when the organization grew. We listen, ask a lot of questions, and help figure out what actually needs to be built. Which is sometimes different from what was first asked for.
From there we design, build, and stay involved. We work alongside our partners as goals evolve, constraints shift, and new opportunities emerge. Together, we keep solving for the intent behind the work — not just delivering against the original request. Some of our longest client relationships have lasted more than a decade — not because of vendor lock-in, but because trust built over time creates better outcomes. The work doesn’t end at launch.
Viable has worked in environmental data, civic infrastructure, e-commerce, education, integrations, physical computing, interactive installations, and more. Not because we chase every category, but because the approach travels. A data platform and a museum exhibit may look different on the surface, but they often ask the same questions: What matters? Who is this for? What should people understand, feel, or do?
The best projects are the ones where the intended audience feels like it was made specifically for them — because it was. Not just functionally, but experientially.
We’ve built things that launched organizations, supported long-term growth, and eventually stood on their own. Along the way we’ve worked with citizen scientists, environmental advocates, civic organizations, educators, retailers, and researchers.
The goal is to create tools, systems, and experiences that amplify what’s possible for the people using them.
Not every project starts with a blank page. Some start in the middle of a difficult moment — a system under strain, a stalled initiative, a team that needs support.
We’ve rebuilt failing applications, untangled complex integrations, migrated critical data systems, and helped organizations regain momentum.
Some of our longest relationships started as one-time rescue missions.
Managing Director & Owner
Josh has spent more than 20 years working across design, development, hardware, and interactive media — alongside 15 years teaching at the college level, most recently User Centered Design at the University of Pittsburgh.
His approach is shaped by curiosity, making, and a belief that good work starts with understanding people first.
Good work starts with understanding. Everything else we figure out together.
