Charlottesville Middle School
Environmental graphics and wayfinding connect students to their new school and the community around them.
The newly restructured middle school brought together sixth, seventh, and eighth graders from different schools and backgrounds. We created a visual identity and environmental graphics system that helps the community feel connected, welcome, and at home in the school.
Client
Charlottesville City Schools
Location
Charlottesville, VA
Markets
Collaborators
Our team led community engagement sessions with teachers, students, parents, and community members to understand what they wanted the new school to represent. Their feedback shaped a design that celebrates Charlottesville’s diversity, familiar places, and shared experiences while creating a welcoming environment for everyone.
Murals draw on Charlottesville’s urban and natural environments, from the Downtown Mall and local parks to urban gardens, basketball courts, and community sledding hills.
Hidden proverbs and positive messages from different cultures appear throughout the murals, reflecting the many backgrounds represented in the school community.
The Welcome Wall greets students and visitors with “Welcome” in multiple languages, responding to community feedback about the importance of diversity, equity, and a safe, welcoming environment.
