In 2024, I won a design contest hosted by the Falls Church Arts and Humanities (FCAH) Council (Falls Church, VA). For the contest, artists from Falls Church were asked to submit potential illustration designs that would be printed and wrapped onto one of the city's many electrical boxes scattered across town. The designs submitted needed to connect some way to the city's history either 100 years ago or 100 years from now. I was one of four finalists whose designs were selected for display in the city.
For my surface redesign, I chose to look back to Falls Church's history 100 years ago, specifically its mostly forgotten railroad history. For context, there is a bike trail that cuts through the northern section of the city known as the Washington and Old Dominion (W&OD) Trail. Over a century ago, this trail was once the site of a short-line railroad that operated under the same name of the trail (the Washington and Old Dominion Railroad). At one time 100 years ago, the railroad provided short-line freight and commuter service between Falls Church, Washington D.C., Alexandria, and other cities scattered across the Northern Virginia area. When brainstorming this project, I knew I wanted to incorporate the railroad into the design both as a means to highlight this often overlooked facet of my city's history and, separately, to indulge in my personal fascination with trains and railroading.
The final design I submitted to the city is based on a trolley car that would've operated along the railroad 100 years ago. This was one of two different train-related designs, the other resembling a self-propelled diesel car with an alternate design and color scheme. The design's body is green with gold trim as a direct reference to the trolley design I had reference. On both the left and right sides of the body are the number "48" in yellow font; a subtle reference to the year 1948 which was when Falls Church became an independent city. Above these numbers is text reading "Washington & Old Dominion" in reference to the railroad that had once operated in the area. As of 2024, the box is on public display at the corner of Park Avenue and West Street in Falls Church, directly across from where the bike trail crosses over Route 7.
Original designs submitted to the FCAH, February 2024.
Final design as displayed on electric box, August 2024.
