Green Line Wayfinding

More than a marker. A call to connect.

Green Line Wayfinding is a sculptural public art prototype designed to investigate neighborhood identity that could encourage community connection and advance the vision of equitable transit-oriented development (ETOD) near Chicago's South Side CTA Green Line.

Co-designed by Janell Nelson and Paola Aguirre of Borderless Studio, and fabricated by Andrés Lemus Spont of Building Brown Workshop, the piece transforms traditional wayfinding into a colorful, multifunctional public experience. A bright yellow framework supports circular graphic elements, bold typography, and geometric seating forms. Integrated messaging and a QR code connect passersby to neighborhood information and Elevated Chicago's larger efforts to promote community-centered development.

The design centers the word "WE," emphasizing the people, histories, and collective possibilities that give neighborhoods their identity. Rather than functioning solely as a directional marker, the piece offers an invitation to pause, interact, and recognize public transit as a vital connection between communities and opportunity.

Designed as a prototype for potential expanded markers near development by Chicago Transit nodes, the project reflects Nelson's broader design practice: using visual communication and public art not only to beautify environments, but to strengthen how communities experience, navigate, and advocate for the places they call home.