throughacross

Throughacross is a term used in design and planning to denote a principle of creating continuous passage and connection across spaces, objects, or systems. It combines the notions of moving through a space with moving across barriers, emphasizing seamless transitions and integrated pathways rather than segregated routes.

There is no single, authoritative definition. The term is found primarily in informal discourse among designers, urbanists, and cartographers, and its usage varies by domain. Etymologically, it is a compound of the English words through and across, used metaphorically to describe how elements align to permit movement, visibility, or interaction across boundaries.

Applications vary by field. In urban planning and architecture, throughacross may describe strategies to align streets, walkways, and public spaces so people can traverse a district smoothly while maintaining distinct districts. In digital design and cartography, it can refer to interfaces or maps that reveal connections traversing different panels or regions, such as transit routes that cross neighborhood borders. In game design or narrative design, it can denote mechanics or motifs that require moving through and across differentiated domains to progress.

Reception and critique. Because the term is relatively informal and context-dependent, some practitioners view it as a flexible guiding concept rather than a precise methodological label. Others caution that overreliance on continuity can suppress local identity or complicate design if not grounded in user needs.

See also: connectivity, wayfinding, permeability, cross-boundary design.