As Charlotte grows into the Derita area, there is a feeling that what makes the neighborhood special needs to be preserved to welcome the newcomers.

In collaboration with the Derita Statesville Road Neighborhood Organization with a City of Charlotte place making grant, we envisioned a neighborhood sign that would announce to passersby that they were in the center of Derita. We worked with a Derita native landowner to place the signage on an old lookout tower next to the former Derita volunteer fire station.

The Design of the signs was inspired by the farmhouse heritage of Derita with the use of wood planks lapped together.

Through community meetings we derived adjectives about Derita to paint behind the white lettering.

I contracted a local artist for the color and painting of the signage. he font of the sign was inspired by the old Derita High School font.

The snowflakes signify the diverse nature of Derita residents and how together we are still beautiful. Through 3 months we held 4 workshops for the community to add their snowflakes to the project by cutting one out with paper, which was then digitized and fabricated with CNC to be hung.